Dams essential, says Chuan
'Don't be swayed by Western campaigns'
Uamdao Noikorn and Phusadee Arunmas , Bangkok Post August 24, 2000
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday
urged the Agriculture Ministry to continue building dams, reservoirs and
other water sources and to keep the public well informed about their
importance to the agricultural sector.
|
| Agriculture Minister
Prapat Pothasuthon greets Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday.
"Don't follow the West's campaign against reservoirs or dams
... we're a farming country," Mr Chuan said. - Sarot
Meksophawannakul |
"Don't follow the West's campaign against
reservoirs or dams because they already have enough water. We're a farming
country," Mr Chuan said.
"Wherever there's water, there's a better standard
of living. Opposing reservoirs only takes its toll on the livelihood of
farmers."The premier made the remarks during a visit to the ministry.
He also suggested it study the impact of rising oil prices on the farm
sector in response to Agriculture Minister Prapat Pothasuthon's proposal
for an oil fund.
Permanent Secretary Petipong Pungbun na Ayudhaya said
the ministry's reservoir projects were all small-to-medium-scale.
"Even then, we still face opposition from green
groups and have compensation problems."Mr Petipong said water
development projects would be carried out where they were needed, such as
the Dok Lai reservoir on the Eastern Seaboard.
Mr Prapat proposed during Tuesday's cabinet meeting that
an oil fund be set up. The ministers agreed to assess the impact of
increasing fuel prices and look for long-term solutions.
Mr Chuan said although oil prices were not the factor
determining costs in general, farm goods would be heavily affected as
rising transport costs pushed up the cost of production.
However, the premier failed to come up with any specific
solutions when asked what should be done to help farmers and fishermen
hard hit by rising fuel prices. Poor farmers were unlikely to be affected
much by the oil price crisis since most of them did not own cars, Mr Chuan
said.
City people should help save energy by cutting down
their use of cars, the premier suggested.
Taxi drivers should switch to natural gas which is
cheaper, he added. |
