Several regional governors have publicly criticised the government in
connection with the floods, saying it did not fulfil promises to
substantially improve anti-flood technology after the country was hit
by severe flooding in 2002. Speaking on a Sunday discussion programme
on Czech TV, Jiri Sulc, the regional governor in Usti nad Labem, north
Bohemia, and a member of the opposition right-of-centre Civic
Democratic Party, charged that there had been no funding for anti-flood
barriers along the Elbe River basin in Usti. Mr Sulc was reacting to
recent criticism by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, suggesting it was the
state that had been caught off guard. Regional Governor for south
Bohemia and south Moravia Stanislav Juranek - a member of the Christian
Democrats - has expressed discontent over delays in projects that he
contends could have minimised damages. Earlier in the week, the Cabinet
earmarked 380 million crowns (15.5 million US dollars) to aid the
regions affected by the floods now. Later on Sunday the Cabinet will
meet to discuss further steps.