Flood protection sufficient, BMA says
Water catchment areas under supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and government agencies are sufficient to hold back flood water and peak tides to prevent the capital from being submerged, according to a BMA report.
In addition to 20 such catchment areas, there is one built on royal initiative known as Monkey Cheek in Bang Khunthian district, which is operated by the Royal Irrigation Department to contain flood and untreated water on the Thon Buri side.
The report lists other natural resources or privatelyowned or manmade properties useable as catchment areas, such as ponds, lakes in housing estates or reservoirs near or built on resorts or golf courses, that could hold extra rain or flood water.
There are 10 BMAsupervised areas, including large sized ones such as Nong Bon pond, Makkasan pond, and Suan Rot Fai pond.
There are another seven owned by government agencies or state enterฌprises, such as two ponds in Armyowned areas assigned individually to the 2nd Cavalry Division and 11th Infantry Regiment, and Ekkamai pond owned by the Expressway Authority of Thailand.
There are three privatelyowned areas, one belonging to the Siam Cement Group in Bang Sue, Suan Siam water park in Min Buri district and See Kan pond in Lak Si district.
