FROC Won’t Shut Down

BANGKOK, December 1 (TNA) - Despite receding floodwater in most Thai areas, including those in Bangkok, Anon Sanitwong na Ayutthaya, secretary to a crisis area water management panel under the government-run Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC) on Thursday refuted reports that the FROC would cease its operations. Dr. Anon insisted that the FROC would oversee the country's current flooding problems until they are resolved, as it becomes impossible to transfer responsibility on solving the flood problems to the government's Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development at the moment. Anon acknowledged that the FROC still needs to closely monitor on seven areas where heavy inundations have remained, including those in the western and eastern parts of the capital, in which more water pumps are being installed to drain out floodwater. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, meanwhile, conceded she could not say that floodwater in affected areas in Bangkok and surrounding provinces could be dried up by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday on December 5, saying, however, that the government is expediting pumping out floodwater in remaining affected areas and rehabilitating flood-receding areas to enable as most as people to have a reunion with their families in their hometowns by the upcoming New Year Festival. Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra affirmed that the overall flooding situation in Bangkok has been steadily improving, urging people to help collect debris as part of the nationwide celebrations of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday. According to the Bangkok governor, debris has amounted over 10,000 tonnes daily. (TNA)