Bangkok governor urges FROC to take charge
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The Bangkok governor yesterday called on the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to take control of the mission to solve the flood problem in Bangkok from the city administration.
MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the FROC has been slow in responding to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s call for assistance in strengthening temporary floodwalls to protect Bangkok from upstream water runoffs.
He said water levels in the Rangsit Canal, which is just north of the capital, were rising and some roads were flooded. The governor warned that if the barriers in this area broke, there would be flooding on VibhavadiRangsit Road and the Don Mueang Airport.
“We sought help from the FROC but there has been no action in the problem areas. The BMA is mobilising its people to strengthen the dykes. I will ask the FROC to take care of this matter,” he said.
The governor said some problem areas were beyond the BMA’s authority, for example, the leaks of flood barriers along the Prapa Canal, which carries water for the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority’s production of tap water in Bangkok.
“I have accepted responsibility for many issues that I should not have had to,” he said.
Sukhumbhand said water runoffs from upstream provinces were entering Bangkok’s canal system.
Sudarat Keyuraphan, an adviser to the FROC, said the water level in the waterworks canal that ran into the heart of Bangkok should be well under control within two days.
“We are pumping out runoff water,” she said, referring to efforts by the government and the BMA. Flood water about 20 centimetres high, however, had already covered the Chaeng Wattana Road in front of the Government Complex.
As of press time, runoff water from the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate and Asian Institute of Technology had already reached the Royal Thai Air Force’s stadium on the Phaholyothin Road in Bangkok.
