Overall situation under control: Anupong

Overall situation under control: Anupong
Anupong: Dams can hold more water
Anupong: Dams can hold more drinking water

Internal Minister Anupong Paojinda is playing down fears of main floods in Bangkok and several other parts from the country, saying the country’s key reservoirs are still capable of getting more water.

“Although one or two tropical storms are required later this year, these types of dams are still nicely below their retention capacity, ” Gen Anupong told a Senate session in parliament yesterday.

He has been responding to a movement submitted by Senator Panthep Klanarongran, who have asked the government to reply to public problems over the possibility of deteriorating inundation.

This year’s complete precipitation is likely to reach 1, 500 millimetres, about 26% higher than average yearly rainfall.

Gen Anupong mentioned that Thailand has yet to be hit by a tropical storm this season. In previous years, floods were brought on by storms, but this season, the increased rain fall is caused by a wetter monsoon.

“Authorities are staying with the default strategy of water administration, which was designed to control floods, while at the same time maintaining sufficient water in dams and reservoirs for the dry time of year, ” he said.

Presently, floods have been documented in 13 provinces, namely Phayao, Nan, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phetchabun, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Rayong and Chanthaburi.

In Bangkok, government bodies have adopted an unique water management program which diverts drinking water run-off from the provinces away from the capital, letting them focus on draining extra rainwater from the city’s streets, he said.

“In short, the overall circumstance is under control, ” he said.

Separately, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, said the situation within Bangkok was improving.

Water levels in most of the city’s major waterways were decreasing — except along Klong Prawet Buri Range of motion in eastern Bangkok, which rose by 60 centimetres recently, exacerbating floods in communities along the canal.

It could be time for the funds to review its ton mitigation plan plus pay more attention to enhancing the drainage capability of canals instead of focusing mainly on building a huge flood tunnel, he stated.

“We have to accept the truth that our drains might no longer be large enough to drain away flood water, ” he said.