The
Thai government is expected to identify specific areas to be included in the
two million rai marked as water-catchments before the end of this week,
according to a source at the Royal Irrigation Department.
The source yesterday disclosed that scales for
compensation payment had already been discussed.
"For example, we will check how many crop
seasons these areas have had each year in the past. The expected incomes of the
farmers who have utilised the plots will then be taken into account when we
work on compensation amounts," the source said.
To date, the government has offered 2,222 baht
(US$73) per rai of paddy fields ravaged by natural disasters. The amount is
about half the actual cost incurred.
"I can assure you that there will be no
land expropriation. We will not force people into submitting their land plots
for water-retention purposes. We will offer fair compensation," Kijja
Pholphasi said yesterday in his capacity as a member of the Strategic Committee
for Water Resources Management (SCWRM).
The vast water-catchment areas are part of the
government's efforts to prevent flooding this year.
Today, a panel of the SCWRM will convene a
meeting to follow up on the progress of short-term measures, including canal
dredging and repair of water gates.
Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, a panel member,
said dredging of existing canals and improving capacity of existing floodways
to drain water and reduce flood risk were among the urgent measures to be
completed before the upcoming rainy season in the next four months.
Natural waterways should be mainly used as
floodways in water and flood management this year, rather than depending on
man-made channels, many of which do not yet exist, he said.
Speaking of a proposal to create a "Chao
Phraya 2" floodway, Petipong said it was a long-term solution which would
take time and many steps, including a public hearing.
Instead of building man-made floodways in the
short term, he added that he proposed using streets in the Eastern Outer Ring
and Buddha Mondhol 5 Road in the western area of Bangkok as channels to drain
water.
"I am sure that if we follow this
short-term plan, we will not face a flood crisis this year," he said.
"I can assure that there will be no
massive expropriation of land to be used as floodways. The main factor behind
the 2011 massive flooding was the huge rainfall," he said.
Petipong admitted to being upset at not
getting information from government agencies quickly enough. "I am just an
ordinary person, not a permanent secretary, a director-general or a
minister," he added.
Obstacles to water flow will be demolished as
a short-term solution, after information is received from agencies, including
the State Railway of Thailand, the Department of Highways and the Royal
Irrigation Department.
Petipong's panel asked other agencies,
including the Transport Ministry, to demolish roads and other related structures
- including bridge pillars or railroads - that could obstruct narrow floodwater
flows, such as Bang Na-Trat Road.
He said the panel also had a plan to manage
and release water from main dams including Sirikit and Bhumibol dams. However,
he said he was worried about public concern about plans to use agricultural
land or farmers' paddy fields as water-retention areas and "monkey
cheeks" to store and drain flood water.
He said the government had to tell local
people clearly about the planned use of their agricultural land for water
retention and the compensation they would receive.
"We still have no plans to expropriate
land from people who live in floodway areas - but we will improve the capacity
of existing canals and floodways to drain the water," he said.
The committee also has a plan to protect the
economic zone - such as by fixing the existing dyke along the Chao Phraya
River, dredging canals and increasing the capacity of pumping stations, he
added.
Meanwhile, SCWRM member Royon Jitdon disclosed
that the National Water and Flood Committee would integrate all water
information by May. He was speaking after a meeting with the prime minister.
Chularat Saengpassa, Pongphon Sarnsamak and
Techawat Sukrak
The Nation
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