The Defence Ministry will ask for a 12.2 billion baht special budget to repair military bases and equipment damaged by the great flood, defence permanent secretary Gen Satian Permtongin said on Wednesday.

Of the proposed budget, 10.5 billion baht would be earmarked for the air force, 1.2 billion baht for the army, 312 million baht for the navy, and 139 million baht for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Gen Satian said.

Gen Satian was speaking after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Centre for Defence Ministry  Operations Support called to discuss plans for post flood relief efforts in 27 affected provinces and to establish funding for restoring military bases and  military equipment damaged by the flood water. 

The proposal will be submitted for deliberation to Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, who chairs the Flood Recovery and Restoration Committee, next Tuesday and will then be forwarded to the cabinet, he said.

The air force base was the hardest hit by the floods with damaged buildings, vehicles and aircraft needing  repairs in Don Mueang airport, Gen Satian said.

The Defence Ministry has readied 50 companies of soldiers for post-flood restoration work, he added. 

The 8800 troops will provide assistance in communities where electricity, water, woodwork and basic infrastructure has been damaged by the floodwater. 

The ministry's medical teams will also distriubute  20,000 litres of effective microorganisms (EM) liquid to treat stagnant flood water in five areas -- Bangkok city, its vicinity, Ayutthaya, Saraburi and Lop Buri.

It also plans to train about 1000 people how to make their own EM liquid. 

Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng, the Defence Ministry spokesman, said that the proposal was based on the actual costs of the damage and is open to full examination.