Published on Aug 4, 2005

Core members of the ruling party’s 100-strong Wang Nam Yom faction expressed uneasiness yesterday over the Cabinet reshuffle, which saw their leader Suriya Jungrungreangkit shifted to a less significant post.

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Published on Aug 30, 2005

Drought continues to ravage the Northeast of the country with nearly 700,000 rai of farmland in Chaiyaphum province still dry, Khon Kaen planning an early drought crisis announcement and Nakhon Ratchasima preparing to make more rainmaking flights. Despite some recent heavy downpours in many districts, Chaiyaphum’s drought situation remains critical with 612,763 rai of paddy fields and 88,709 rai of farmland having no water at all, said Governor Praphakorn Samiti.

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Published on Sep 2, 2005

The Budget Bill passed its second reading yesterday, despite

complaints about unfair distribution concerning transport and

agriculture allocations.

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Published on Sep 5, 2005

The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex was recently added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites, on the grounds that it is one of the most important remaining forest zones in mainland Southeast Asia. The listing was the triumphant result of a 10-year campaign. Thwn, within less than a month, the government proposed to flood 3,000 rai of the forest complex under water-storage reservoirs to help overcome water shortages, especially for industry, on the Eastern Seaboard. This proposal has betrayed a value system in which the words “world heritage” have no meaning at all. This forest land is just a neglected resource waiting to be used. The car factories and petrochemical plants on the Eastern Seaboard are much more important

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Villagers fear the government will approve numerous mega-projects related to water management during its mobile Cabinet meeting in Buri Ram on Tuesday, some of which might have dubious benefits.

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Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Charusombat plans to propose an integrative approach to tackle the problem of long-term drought at Tuesday’s mobile Cabinet meeting in Buri Ram.

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There are less wasteful methods than building more storage and delivery infrastructure. The Thaksin administration has practically ignored Thailand’s growing water crisis over the last four-plus years. With the exception of the attempt to consolidate water agencies as part of the bureaucratic reform two years ago, sustainable management of the country’s water resources has never been a priority. That’s why every summer we hear reports of trucks being dispatched to deliver emergency supplies of water to the most parched communities.

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The cabinet has on Tuesday approved a budget in excess of Bt2 billion for development projects in Buri Ram province and has supported drought relief plans over the next two years, government spokesman Pol Gen Chalermdej Jombunud said .

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