Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has proposed building a so-called overflow highway that would enable run-off from areas upstream of Bangkok to drain faster and directly into the ocean.
He made his proposal on Wednesday within talks with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda as they inspected overloaded areas in Lat Krabang district. Gen Anupong agreed from it but said they have to be discussed additional.
A flood highway has been proposed as a long lasting solution for avoiding serious floods in the capital, said Mister Chadchart. Although waterways that form the flood drainage network in the city have been well dredged in front of the rainy season, major flooding still occurred in parts of the city due to the heavier rainfall, said Gen Anupong.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Management (BMA) and other bodies, including the Royal Water sources Department (RID), the military, and the Section of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), are trying their best to deal with the floods, this individual said.
Draining the run-off from Khlong Prawet Buri Rom in eastern Bangkok into Bang Pakong Water in neighbouring Chachoengsao’s Bang Pakong area, and then from the river to the Gulf of Thailand, spans a lengthy distance, said Gen Anupong.
“So as we are going to now utilising existing resources to accelerate flood water draining work, the BMA has proposed the flood highway concept for the future, to which I agree, ” this individual said.
Further discussions in the proposed flood road will follow as it problems not only Bangkok but additionally Pathum Thani plus Chachoengsao, said Mister Chadchart.
The BMA can not act alone with this long-term proposal to cope with floods, he stated, adding that he appreciated the cooperation of some other agencies supporting the particular BMA’s handling of the floods.
The RID is certainly speeding up draining water from Khlong Prawet Buri Rom straight into Bang Pakong Water so that flood waters in those low-lying communities of Lat Krabang can drain better into the canal, said Praphit Chanma, RID’s director-general.
He mentioned there is no need to divert excess water from the Chao Phraya in to the rice-growing Central Flatlands provinces, as this would damage crops expected to be harvested later on this month.
In Nakhon Pathom, water within the Tha Chin River yesterday morning reached a critical level, compelling red flags to voyage at all bridges working over the river in the province.
As of yesterday surges were reported within a total of 988 villages in various locations in Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Tak, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Loei, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Sa Keao, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Ayutthaya and Ang Thong, said the DDPM.