Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, left, greets Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House on Sunday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday said he would appeal a House sub-committee decision to reject a funding request for a new Russian-made helicopter for the ministry's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The sub-committee vetting the 2024 fiscal budget bill on Thursday rejected the ministry's request for 950 million baht in funds for a helicopter procurement project. Mr Anutin, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said the DDPM needs two more helicopters and the first purchase should come from the 2024 fiscal budget. Currently, the DDPM only has four helicopters, which are not enough to fight wildfires and haze pollution and conduct rescue operations, he said.

Source: Bangkok Post March 04, 2024 10:55 UTC