Bangkok: The government is accelerating efforts to address the impact of state projects, moving forward with eight major assistance programs for farmers in the Northeast, and preparing to submit compensation proposals to the Cabinet for approval.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that following the submission of a letter on June 23rd by representatives of the Northeastern Farmers' Assembly (NEFA) and the Northeastern Farmers' Federation (NFFF), the government has not remained inactive. It has immediately begun seeking solutions, and most recently, a committee to resolve the issue has been convened, reaching concrete conclusions on how to alleviate the hardships faced by farmers in the northeastern region who have been affected by government infrastructure projects.
The government is focusing on resolving issues from a legal standpoint, considering social impacts and cost-effectiveness, in order to find fair solutions and alleviate the suffering of the people through eight major projects. These include compensation for land in four reservoirs (Ban Thamnob, Huai Senang, Ampul, and Huai Sapong Noi), special relocation payments for the Prong Khun Phet Reservoir project in Chaiyaphum Province, compensation in lieu of land allocation for resettlement of over 5,353 farmers in Surin Province, and solutions to the problems of the Rasi Salai Weir project in Si Saket and Roi Et Provinces.
Captain Patradarasmi further revealed that all relevant sectors are currently expediting the compilation of information to submit to the Cabinet for consideration and approval of assistance as soon as possible. This will serve as a model for resolving disputes and impacts from government development projects in other areas. Furthermore, to ensure transparency and accountability in problem-solving, the government has appointed a subcommittee to oversee the resolution of the issues and nine fact-finding committees in nine provinces, totaling ten committees, to closely monitor the progress in all areas.