Ubon Ratchathani: “MP Nan” from the Bhumjaithai Party has criticized the local government’s budget allocation, labeling it as unfairly distributed with many hidden government expenses, resulting in minimal funds for area development. She is urging for adjustments in budget plans to effectively tackle flooding issues.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Nan Bunthida Somchai, an MP representing Ubon Ratchathani from the Bhumjaithai Party, expressed agreement with the proposed 2026 budget expenditure. However, she raised concerns regarding budget management, specifically highlighting the 107 billion baht allocated for water resource management. Ms. Nan pointed out that while numerous large-scale projects aim to address flooding in various provinces, Ubon Ratchathani, which is significantly affected by the Mun and Chi Rivers, lacks a clear short-term plan for managing local waterways.
Ms. Nan mentioned that multiple agencies, including the Marine Department and local administrative organizations, are responsible for maintaining canals. This overlapping responsibility could lead to issues concerning soil displacement after dredging. If inspections reveal that the soil cannot be moved or is misplaced, parties involved could face legal repercussions.
She acknowledged the importance of the Marine Department’s focus on major routes but highlighted the persistent issues with smaller canals. A disparity in the flow rates between main and secondary canals could slow drainage, exacerbating flooding issues. Ms. Nan observed that out of the nearly 10 billion baht earmarked for water resource management studies, a mere 700 million baht is allocated for urgent needs like dredging to create water storage areas.
Ms. Nan urged government agencies to concentrate on unusual and problematic disasters. She criticized the current approach as a mere aggregation of numbers, lacking real solutions. She called for improved methods and adaptations to align with evolving situations rather than settling for temporary fixes.
Furthermore, Ms. Nan criticized the decentralized budget allocation to local administrative organizations, which she deemed unfair. Despite a total budget of 380,000 million baht, she argued that various government policies siphon off funds, leaving little for genuine area development. She emphasized the need for central agencies to heed provincial issues to implement targeted solutions, rather than revisiting the same problems without progress.