Anutin” reiterates mobilizing all sectors to help with flooding in the North, confirms there is sufficient budget for recovery, ready to go to the area, urges checking the warning system after being complained about its inefficiency, before clearing the schedule to make merit on his birthday to go to Chiang Rai.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul said about the work after the policy statement to the parliament that the Ministry of Interior has no problem because it is working continuously. As for the criticism from the villagers about the Ministry of Interior’s warning system not working to warn of flooding in Chiang Rai Province, Mr. Anutin confirmed that the system is in use and we have mobilized all forces to the area. The provincial governor, Mr. Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, is in the area to facilitate and mobilize equipment and machinery to the flood meeting area continuously.
As for the warning from the Department of Disaster P
revention and Mitigation (DDPM), there was no warning before the incident. Mr. Anutin asked that we should not blame anyone for being wrong or right. Right now, we must prioritize providing safety to the people. We must see if anyone is still in the area, including whether flood victims have been evacuated to shelters. All sectors are mobilizing their forces to provide assistance.
This afternoon at 2:00 PM, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, will chair a meeting to solve the flooding problem in the northern region. While their schedule has already been set to go to the area to provide relief and rehabilitation, they think they will not go at this time because it will not be beneficial. They will be in command at the central office. As for the Prime Minister’s meeting today, will there be a discussion on the flood rehabilitation plan? Mr. Anutin said that all sectors must be mobilized anyway. Currently, the Chiang Rai governor has a reserve budget. If the budget is not enough, it can be proposed to
the central office immediately. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation will be the one to proceed. He confirmed that the budget is not a problem. However, at this time, people must be helped to prevent them from being stranded in the flooded areas first.
In the case of Chiang Rai Province receiving the highest budget for flood prevention and warning in the northern region, but in the past it has been criticized for its inadequate system, Mr. Anutin said that we must urgently investigate the warning system to see how it is because everyone says that they have already given warnings, but some people still say that they have not received warnings. By nature, no one wants to leave their homes or houses, and they may assess that the situation may not be serious. He will urgently go down to the area to investigate this matter, and stated that in the past, every mode of care has been used, and now Chiang Rai Province has been declared a disaster area.
As for the assessment of the situation, how many
days will the water level decrease, Mr. Anutin stated that the incident did not occur only in Chiang Rai Province or was caused by the problem of rainfall alone, but was caused by flash floods and overflowing water from neighboring countries, which are natural disasters unrelated to management. He also confirmed that control must be accelerated to minimize losses.
When asked about the social trend criticizing the government leader for not going to the area, Mr. Anutin said that the Prime Minister called a meeting and all the ministers talked all the time and today they discussed it online to follow the situation. As I said, when I went, people asked why I went. When I didn’t go, they said I wouldn’t go to the area. He confirmed that this is still being decided in order to assess. During the flash flood crisis, personnel should be in the area because it is considered an important matter.
At the end, Mr. Anutin said that tomorrow (September 13), he may travel to Chiang Rai Province and has cancelled his missi
on to make merit on his 58th birthday. However, he may travel to pay homage to the Buddha at Wat Ratchabophit and the City Pillar Shrine privately before entering Government House to pay homage to the sacred shrine of Government House with the Prime Minister.
Source: Thai News Agency