Revamp proposes a Water Ministry

The government is expected to scrutinise a new blueprint for bureaucratic restructuring within the next two weeks, PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan said yesterday.

The Public Sector Development Commission had now completed outlining flaws detected in the administrative system, as per a Cabinet resolution on December 12, Dhipavadee said.

"Most administrative problems have been found at the ministerial level and many shortcomings stem from overlapping jurisdiction and poor departmental co-ordination," she said.

One of the key proposals for restructuring was the creation of a ministerial-level agency to manage water resources in an integrated manner, she said.

The new agency would assume control of all existing bodies on water management, if created, but it was not meant to add to the number of Cabinet seats, she said.

On the drawing board are plans to improve the co-ordination between the Agriculture Ministry and relevant ministries like Commerce, Industry, Public Health and Natural Resources and Environment, she said.

Three ministries most affected by the force of globalisation are slated for internal restructuring, she said. They are Information and Communication Technology, Culture, plus Tourism and Sports.

Certain agencies in the Culture Ministry might be transformed into "special delivery units" in order to keep up with the fast pace of cultural change.

There might be three new departments to handle new developments on information technology.

And more regional offices to promote tourism.

The Nation
Thu, February 1, 2007