PM's office to tackle water management
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will directly lead government efforts to tackle chronic flooding and droughts through a new water management unit to be established under the PM's Office.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will directly lead government efforts to tackle chronic flooding and droughts through a new water management unit to be established under the PM's Office.
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New unit to plug flooding problem
Wassana Nanuam & Chatrudee Theparat
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will directly lead government efforts to tackle chronic flooding and droughts through a new water management unit to be established under the PM's Office.
The premier yesterday said some vital water-related work will come under his direct control in a new structure he believes will shore up the overall management system.
The Water Resource Department (WRD), currently under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, will be placed under the PM's Office, said department chief Warasart Apaipong. The Royal Irrigation Department will continue to stay with the Agriculture and Co-operatives Ministry to serve as an operations agency, said Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya.
To speed up the process, Mr Warasart said Gen Prayut will invoke Section 44 to bypass the lengthy bureaucratic process.
The plan was announced yesterday after a meeting of the National Water Board, chaired by the prime minister.
Gen Prayut said he plans to make the WRD more efficient in working with other agencies to store, divert and drain water – the three core functions in water management.
Though the functions are clear, they have not been easily turned into action. The government has many agencies to handle the tasks, but it lacks a sole central agency to direct the work, said Mr Warasart.
But once the WRD receives direct orders from the prime minister, it will more quickly and smoothly work with other agencies, he said.
The new working structure corresponds with the water management bill, which is now being scrutinised by the National Legislative Assembly, said Mr Warasart. The bill is designed to offer clearer measures to tackle both flooding and droughts.
Thailand was hit by tropical storm Sonca late last month, leaving large swathes of damage in its wake, especially in the Northeast.
Some provinces are still struggling to assess and recover from the damage.
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