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The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will visit provinces on the flood "trail" next week to inspect the progress of flood-prevention measures, PM's Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal said yesterday.
Nivatthamrong said Yingluck and members of her Cabinet would visit Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani from February 13 to 17.
The tour aims to check up on the implementation of measures to prevent flooding, the minister said, adding that the prime minister wanted to see government agencies charged with speeding up implementation before the rainy season arrives in five or six months.
Nivatthamrong said Yingluck would first visit Uttaradit where floodwater often accumulates, as the Sirikit Dam is located in the province.
During the Uttaradit visit, the prime minister will talk about forestation and building up small irrigation dams.
Relevant officials will also predict the flood situation this year so that the government can plan the release of water from major dams, including Bhumibhol and Kwai Noi, to avoid flooding of downstream areas.
The prime minister will also visit dams in Uttaradit, Nivatthamrong said, before heading to Phitsanulok.
There will be a workshop for government agencies in the morning and they will be required to brief the PM on the progress of the flood-prevention measures.
The agencies will inform the prime minister how much they have spent from the Bt80 billion allocated to them from some Bt130 billion in flood-prevention funding.
Nivatthamrong said Yingluck would consider approving more funds for state agencies if they needed more money to implement measures.
Provincial officials in Phitsanulok will also brief the prime minister on the water situation so that top officials can decide how much water should be retained in dams.
Later, Yingluck will visit Nakhon Sawan, in the middle of the flood "trail", and check the capacity of Boraphet Swamp to retain flood water.
Nakhon Sawan Governor Chairoj Meedaeng will brief the PM on a plan to drain floodwater from upstream and "monkey-cheek" flood-retention areas to limit the amount of water flowing downstream.
The PM will continue on to Chai Nat and Lop Buri later to inspect major sluice gates, such as Polthep and Bang Chomsri, Nivatthamrong said, adding that the Cabinet would stay overnight in Lop Buri.
The following day, Yingluck will inspect industrial estates and historical sites in Ayutthaya. While there, the PM will be briefed of the implementation of flood-prevention measures in downstream provinces, including Nakhon Nayok, Phathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan.
-- The Nation 2012-02-06
