More models are required” for fire destruction.”
PUBLISHED on Mar. 4, 2024 at 04 :54
Anutin Charnvirakul, the interior minister, announced on Sunday that he would appeal a House subcommittee’s decision to reject a funding request for a new Russian-made helicopter for the agency’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation ( DDPM).
The ministry requested 950 million baht in money for a helicopter purchasing project, but the sub-committee assessing the 2024 governmental budget expenses on Thursday rejected that request.
The DDPM needs two more aircraft, according to Mr. Anutin, who likewise serves as deputy prime minister. The initial purchase should be made using the fiscal resources for 2024. He added that these planes are even more crucial now that the nation has to deal with more cloud waste and fire than in the past.
The DDPM now just has four planes, which are insufficient to combat fire, cloud waste, and carry out rescue operations, he said.
According to Mr. Anutin, these operations may occasionally be life-threatening, particularly when rescuing injured peope or animals from challenging terrain.
He said,” Helicopters are required for not only wildfire reduction but also other important businesses.”
He added that he has defended the plane sourcing strategy with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and other key members of the Pheu Thai Party and will send his appeal to the main house commission vetting the budget expenses. How those discussions turned out, he did n’t say.
Due to the slow business, Yuttapong Charasathien, a Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham and assistant head of the House sub-committee, said the sub-committee decided not to approve the budget ask on Thursday.
He claimed that as a result, the state should prioritize its economic stimulus initiatives, such as the 10-millibaht digital wallet scheme.
More important, he said, media outlets had inquired about the cost because the same type of Russian helicopter had been sold to other countries for just 500 million baht as a result of the DDPM’s previous procurement of four aircraft.
He added that the DDPM does n’t currently have a proper hangar for the four helicopters. Rather, they are temporarily parked in Lop Buri, near the military’s aviation center.