Govt says water management scheme transparent

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) - The government reiterated Saturday that the 350 billion baht water and flood management projects are transparent and the general public who would be affected could be involved by discussing with the four winning bidders. Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan and Thongthong Chandarangsu, permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, jointly said during the weekly TV and radio programme, sponsored by the prime minister, that projects under the scheme are not carried out hastily while the government is preparing to organise roadshows and inform the people who would be affected from the programme to better understand the programme. Stressing that projects have to be implemented urgently because of global warming and to prevent severe flooding in Thailand, Niwattumrong said besides allowing would-be affected people living in areas where constructions are to be made to scrutinise each project, they could also discuss with the winning bidders. Thongthong, meanwhile, said new prices offered by the four bidders following negotiations, which ended Thursday, could not yet be disclosed to the public because they must be approved by the cabinet first during the weekly meeting next Tuesday. And even after the cabinet has approved, contracts cannot be signed immediately as they need a few months to draft, said Thongthong. However, they are expected to be signed within 180 days as proposed by the winning bidders, Thongthong added. (TNA)