Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt says he can propose the building of the new “flood highway” at today’s meeting of the National Drinking water Resource Committee.
The project would allow run-off through eastern areas upstream of Bangkok in order to drain faster simply by channelling the water directly into the sea.
Speaking after yesterday’s meeting of the Tha Chin River Basin Committee, Mr Chadchart said that he wanted to improve the severe flood situation in Bekv?m Krabang district within eastern Bangkok.
Initially, the Royal Irrigation Section (RID) had planned in order to widen Khlong Lam Pla Thiew, however the construction would have required land expropriation plus an environmental effect assessment, both which take time, Mr Chadchart said.
As for City Hall’s plan, the ton highway would be built as a tunnel from Khlong Lam Pla Thiew that intersects with Khlong Prawet Burirom in Lat Krabang district enabling the run-off to drain into Khlong Roi Kew where the RID is responsible for handling water management.
“The project may cost in the region of 10 billion baht, but it would ease the severity of flooding and help boost economic expansion in eastern Bangkok, ” Mr Chadchart said.
He said the original idea to build a floodway may not be practical as the landscape of the area has changed considerably in recent times, with Boom Na-Trat Road and many buildings and homes making it difficult to construct an effective floodway.
Regarding the Meteorological Department’s forecast associated with heavy rainfall immediately, Mr Chadchart said City Hall is definitely stepping up efforts to dredge canals plus remove the hyacinth which is blocking many waterways to prepare for expected flooding in the coming days.
Director-general of the RID Prapis Chanma mentioned two more hydroflow pumps had been installed at the Nang Hong water pumping train station in tambon Khlong Dan of Beat Bo district within Samut Prakan state, in addition to the six pumping systems sent there last week.
Mr Prapis said that the Irrigation Department would certainly continue providing help areas affected by flooding until the situation results to normal.