BMA pairs with RID to tackle floods

BMA pairs with RID to tackle floods

The Bangkok City Administration (BMA) offers plans to work with the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and governors in neighbouring provinces to better manage the city’s flood seas during the rainy time of year.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Saturday  met Seree Supratid, movie director of the Climate Modify and Disaster Center at Rangsit College, for talks on prevention and obtaining ways to alleviate the impact from inundation at Kuson Sueksa School.

At the meeting, Mister Seree proposed the short-term plan to set up a water services centre to cooperate with locals, educating district chiefs to follow along with up on situation tests to ensure a quick response.

For long-term options, he sought cooperation from district chiefs, state agencies plus civil society to look for certain areas that can be used to retain water after heavy rain.

Mr Seree also said extreme rainfall is expected during October plus November, which could trigger many areas to be submerged, notably in the southern region.

Mr Chadchart said rainfall improved more than 50% over the capital during the very first half of this month. The BMA can revise its plan and prepare gear to handle inundation issues. Certain drainage spots will be required to upgrade faster.

The city was aware that heavy rainfall issues increasingly need a more integrated answer.

“Up until now, the BMA only diverted water in the capital. However the BMA will work with all the RID to help divert water through additional provinces as well later on, in an attempt to create a stability in the drainage program, ” said Mr Chadchart.

“The BMA can cooperate with surrounding provinces later. ”

Regarding the heavy floods that will hit Lat Krabang district, the Bangkok governor said the problem has improved and the water volume receded. But deeper places in some communities had been still submerged within water.

He said the particular BMA also agreed to encourage public participation and will provide assets such as sand bags to communities hit by floods.