Plug the leaks in flood control

EDITORIAL

Published: 10/02/2012 at 02:10 AM
Newspaper section: News

Central control. Single command. Top-down management. This is what our prime minister believes will save the country from any recurrence of last year's inundation. But will it?

In a last-ditch effort to restore domestic and international confidence in the state's ability to control flood damage, the government on Tuesday announced the setting up of a National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee. This panel will have the authority to order all related agencies _ from rain-catchment forest conservation to flood disaster management _ to operate under the prime minister's single command.

Such a decision is clearly in response to the fierce criticism the government drew last year for the severe lack of coordination among the various state agencies involved.

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peterl
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Discussion 8 : 10/02/2012 at 05:59 PM8
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The point is to strike a balance between vertical integration (top down) and horizontal integration (area input) of administrative agencies.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 7 : 10/02/2012 at 11:42 AM7
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FROC did have a database with nice clear maps of both actual flooding and worst-case predicted flooding. Their facebook page had clear updates on the situation. The issue wasn't their information, but their lack of a crystal ball and citizens and news reporters inability/unwillingness to read a map.

"Remember the repeated (and false) assurances from the prime minister that "everything is under control" while the flood situation was actually getting worse?"
I remember her saying things like, "We cannot block the water forever" and "Flood waters are coming from every direction and we cannot control them because it's a huge amount of water."
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tomb
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Discussion 6 : 10/02/2012 at 11:30 AM6
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It's clear that during last year's flood crisis there were too many cooks spoiling the broth.

Centralized control and oversight does make sense, but only when you can get your subordinates to toe the line.

Input from locals should be valued, but taken with a pinch of salt as well as too many try to milk the flood for their own benefit.
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med142
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Discussion 5 : 10/02/2012 at 10:56 AM5
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One boss, One agency. yes. But no jobs for the boys, All money accounted for. No grafts,
There should be no political influences in this agency. Also the experts did show that they are not experts in this area. Even though its just common sense a lot of it, but also having knowledge about making homes as flood proof as possible, which is easy to do. To many cooks spoil the broth.
There where many comical aspects to the flooding coming from so called experts.
But there will be jobs for the boys in this.
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Victor
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Discussion 4 : 10/02/2012 at 08:43 AM4
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Disaster prepareness in this country, like all things that need preventive maintenance, is not in the gene of the average Thais. They prefer to wait till the last minute to start moving and then it will always be too late.

According to the law there are at least 2 different high level commissions, headed by the PM, that supposed to be directly involve with all natural and man-made disasters, but not a single meeting has been called for during the last couple of years. Every government prefered to set up more and more committees just to show that they are in charge.
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nedkelly
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Discussion 3 : 10/02/2012 at 08:17 AM3
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You shouldn't count on too much of this 3.5-trillion-baht actually being spent on flood relief, PT will be more interested in lining their own pockets than flood prevention and mitigation. Be warned La Nina is still active, Australia is still going through massive flooding. Keep your life jackets handy.

This years party might cost 20 million baht to celebrate an even bigger stuffup.
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ggh
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Discussion 2 : 10/02/2012 at 06:08 AM2
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I believe the shortcomings in management during last year's flooding would indicate that not only was the government unprepared for the disaster but Thailand as a whole has failed to prepare themselves. In a country that is prone to annual flooding, why have all previous administrations failed to see the importance of being prepared for a disaster of this type? And all these factories that chose to build on a flood plain, would it not be in their financial interest to safeguard their investment, rather than relying completely on authorities who have proven less than effective timt and time again? A key element of the current governments master flood plan is the integration of local government's plans along the flooding route. This would indicate the master plan is heavily reliant on input and performance of the local flood prevention plans. Let's hope the government will be flexible enough to make changes along the way to effectively administer the master plan in the event of flooding this year. This will be a huge challenge for any management team.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 1 : 10/02/2012 at 06:03 AM1
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Does anyone really think that the "flaws" will be removed, the "lessons" will have been learned, and that certain areas will not be saved again at other people's expense? I'm sorry about being negative, but these are politicians running the show. Lieing, deception, corruption, and vested interests is all the really know. The system of government is based on it. Expecting them to change for the next flood is like expecting them to tackle corruption.
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Plug the leaks in flood control | Bangkok Post: opinion