Thai Gov’t to hire water management companies

Local residents take a boat to cross a flooded street in Bang Khun Thian district, Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Nov. 15, 2011. <Photo DB=Xinhua>

BANGKOK, July 4 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s cabinet has approved a budget of 300 billion baht (10 billion U.S. dollars) to hire Thai and foreign companies for the country’s water management and flood control projects, senior official said late Tuesday.   The cabinet also approved the terms for hiring and will publicize the information to attract bidders.

Foreign companies would be invited through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to introduce in advanced water management technologies, Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said.

The budget included 14 projects, eight of which on Chao Phraya River that runs through the capital city of Bangkok. The other six projects are for rivers across the country, he said.

The projects will include reservoirs, canals, sluice gates, emergency response plans, water retention and diversion, town planning and others.

Bidders will have to hand in their plans in three months after being selected. Construction will not begin until next year as project design and cost appraisals will take another few months, he added.

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