Repair bill from Thai floods hits US$20 million

The cost of repair to historic and archaeological sites from damage caused by the recent floods in Thailand are set to hit 600 million Thai Baht, or approximately USD$20 million. Among the 200 sites affected are the Phimai Historical Park and the Ban Prasat Archaeological site.

photo credit: antwerpenR

Historical sites seek flood funds
Bangkok Post, 28 November 2010

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat has requested 600 million baht in funding from the government to repair archaeological and historic sites damaged by this year’s floods.

The first tranche of the special budget request, 242 million baht, is expected to be allocated by the end of the year or early next year.

Plans have been drawn up to repair and renovate the damaged sites, and the amount being sought is not high when compared to government spending on development elsewhere, he said.

”The government has spent hundreds of millions of baht on new roads but has invested very little on cultural preservation, although these ancient sites are important to our country,” Mr Nipit said.

Fine Arts department deputy director Khemchat Thepchai said more than 200 historic and archaeological sites in 38 provinces were damaged by the floods, many more than have been previously reported.

The sites were surveyed during and after the floods.