Bt200bn budget earmarked to assist Thailand's flood-hit firms

BANGKOK, November 5 (TNA) - The Thai government has earmarked a state budget of over 200 billion baht to assist flood-impacted firms in the country. Thai Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul said Friday was the first day that his ministry opened for registrations of the special state financial support, provided through local banks. Wannarat suggested that flood-hit business operators seeking further information call his ministry at 02-202-4138 to 9, from 8:30am-8pm, 7 days a week, and file their claims online at [www.diw.go.th/flood54], or through postal services within the January 31, 2012 deadline. The minister acknowledged that his ministry's special task force on flood prevention and mitigation has remained on high alert to prevent inundations at the country's nine flood-prone industrial sites, including the Bang Chan, Lat Krabang, Unyathani, Wellgrow, Bangplee, Bangpoo, Samut Sakhon, Sinsakhon and Baan Pho, where over 1,290 manufacturing plants are housed with their total investment fund of some 450 billion baht. The industry minister insisted that a special watch has been given to the Bang Chan and the Lat Krabang Industrial Estates in Bangkok's suburban areas, as water levels in the nearby San Saab Canal have kept rising, although 2.10-3.40-metre-high floodwalls have been erected and water pumps have already been installed at the capital's two main eastern industrial sites. (TNA)