News
Experts warn of water scarcity
Low levels at dams could lead to problems if resources not carefully managed. While there is enough water available, resources have to be managed very carefully, as water experts have warned that mismanagement could result in serious problems. Sucharit Koontanakulvong, head of water resources engineering at ...
Homes, farmland swamped by floods
As heavy rains brought by tropical storm “Rai” persisted over the upper part of Thailand on September 15, many homes and tracts of farmland in downstream provinces were flooded by runoff. Phitsanulok ordered all scenic waterfalls linked to the Wang Thong River to be closed to ...
MDE replaces ICT Ministry
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will be officially established on September 16, replacing the Information and Communications Technology Ministry. The MDE is being set up as part of the government’s “Thailand 4.0” policy. The Royal Gazette announced on September 15 that the MDE would become ...
PPP gross cost investment model ‘best for motorway projects’
The Highways Department proposed at a meeting on September 14 that two motorway projects. The meeting was held to prepare for today’s meeting of the Private Public Partnership Policy Committee. The committee is to consider the two projects. According to the Highways Department, the PPP Gross Cost model ...
Life of the Salween highlights Southeast Asia's dam concerns
To reach this village, you leave Mae Sariang in northwestern Thailand and drive a couple of hours along winding roads carved into the sides of valleys before reaching a landing on the wide, fast flowing Salween river. You take the steps down a muddy bank to ...
34 provinces on alert as storm Rai covers Thailand
The Meteorological Department issued a warning on September 13 to people in 34 provinces in the North, Northeast and East to brace for heavy rain and stay tuned for weather updates. As of early Wednesday, tropical storm “Rai” was over Laos and the Northeast on September ...
An elemental difference has developed among those concerned for wetland conservation
If this year’s severe drought returns next dry season, Uncle Wai Rodtayoy and other salt farmers in tambon Koek Kharm of Samut Sakhon, known as the country’s largest sea-salt-farming area, will see mounting debts. The price of salt this year bottomed at 450 baht per ...
EC debates bill to boost power
The Election Commission is expected to debate on September 13 a draft organic law seeking to grant itself more powers to ensure efficiency in guarding against poll fraud and cheats. A source at the EC said the draft law involves the elections of MPs and the mechanisms ...
State aid for cassava farmers
The government is set to introduce measures to curb the adverse impact of falling tapioca prices in light of lower imports from China and price-cutting competition. Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the measures include schemes to cut farmers’ existing loan interest, ...
Thai authorities downplay Zika risk, worried by tourism impact
Health and city officials in Thailand downplayed risks from rising infections from the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to serious birth defects, and expressed concern that disclosing information would damage its tourism industry. On September 9, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned ...
