From the
Thai-language press: Prachachatturakij editorial:
What is the plan to protect the nation from flooding that reoccurs from North to South? - December
2, 2005
Finally Samui Island, the famous tourism area in
the world, was under water after three days of heavy
rain (November 25-27). The big flood caused 300
million baht damage. People who was born in Samui
Island say there has never been a flood, except
after the recent disorderly construction of hotels,
luxury hotels and commercial buildings on mountains
and on beaches. Many selfish entrepreneurs constructed
and obstructed the water way and investors have
project on the mountains.
Actually, not only Samui Island, but also another
beautiful tourism place--Ban Krood Amphur Bangsapan,
Prachabkirikhun--faces a flood crisis. Before this,
there was flood in Chiangmai four times with damages
in the many billions of baht. Every time after a
flood, the government leader flies to rescue people
by giving necessary things and then flies back to
Bangkok. After that event, Chiangmai was under flood
again.
At present, the problem of floods all around the
country is not thought to related to natural issues
any more because a flood in a big city or tourist
area is a seasonal problem and the government just
sends relief. This is a very disappointing thing
because the Thaksin government usually says this
is a government of New Thinking, New doing, Solving
Problem Unity and CEO administration. But considering
with empty eyes, there are still floods and the
economy is still under water every season.
It is useless to blame the flood problem on investors
invading forests, mountains, or construction in
a wrong form different from permission, cheating,
insufficiency of TAO. It is useless to expect to
the "CEO governor" to help. The most disappointing
thing is that the central government could not develop
city and tourism areas not to face floods every
season, meanwhile the government intends to get
100,000 million baht income from tourism areas.
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