PUBLISHED: 8 Dec 2024 at 05: 57
The governor of Yala capital city, Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, has proposed guidelines to address long-term storm issues while revisiting long-standing proposals to create the Krong Pinang and Kuemeng dams as part of disaster elimination efforts.
Mr Pongsak provided an upgrade on the municipal storm position on Saturday, highlighting efforts to manage misuse and provide relief to affected residents.
Distribution of survival sets and other support is one of these initiatives.
Over 20, 000 homes have been hit by the crisis, he said, adding some people, especially the elderly, are struggling to cope, with some experiencing inundation for the first time.
He claimed that Yala’s recent flooding, which had been recovering from turmoil in the Deep South, also posed a threat to potential investments, as well as financial revitalization work with the opening of significant department stores.
Yala has experienced extreme flooding for two consecutive years, according to the president, overstepping the ability of local officials. He expressed hope that similar measures will increase Yala’s people and investors, inspired by the systematic flood prevention measures in the neighboring Songkhla province’s Hat Yai region. The area has been spared from big floods for almost 20 years.
A comprehensive water management plan is required, according to Mr. Pongsak because Yala Municipality is located between the Sai Buri and Pattani rivers.
He announced plans to revisit the illustrious project that was first proposed 50 years ago, the Krong Pinang Dam.
He claimed that authorities would also consider revisiting a 50-year-old proposal to construct the Kuemeng Dam in the Ahsong subdistrict.
This dam is anticipated to reduce flooding in the neighboring Narathiwat province’s Sukhirin, Rueso, and Sri Sakhon districts as well as Yala’s Raman district.
Mr. Pongsak suggested creating a system to divert water from the Budi subdistrict to the Sai Buri River and the old market area to the Pattani River for densely populated areas like Ban Budi in the Sateng Nok subdistrict, which has 200, 000 residents.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation ( DDPM) has directed authorities to pump out floodwaters to alleviate inundation in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces.
A relatively strong cold air mass will have an impact across Thailand, according to the Thai Meteorological Department ( TMD).