WaterforThai website opens

BANGKOK, 16 August 2012: Thailand flood watch capability improved with the introduction of a new website this week.

Outlining the government’s plans and projects to fight flood threats, www.waterforthai.com is the latest government initiative to build confidence in its water management plan.

The website, however, is limited to just a Thai version, which restricts its value to foreign agencies that need to keep updated. However, the gist of the site’s content can be understood by using Google translate.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government is now ready to clarify to the public all of its plans and achievements to keep flood water at bay.

“The government can now explain to the public how water will flow from rivers in the north. Using closed-circuit cameras that will be installed along the waterways we will monitor the situation and transfer information in a timely manner to the website.”

She said the government was gearing its responses to various simulated scenarios that have been tested to ensure a much better response mechanism than was possible in the past.

Success in dealing with flood water will depend on dredging works at downstream locations that must be completed this month. September is the beginning of the critical period for the central plains and the threat of floods from the north will continue through to early November.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) for private companies to build a sustainable water management system for Thailand has been carefully planned without any intention to make it more favourable for either foreign contenders or Thai companies, a government spokesperson said.