Setback for east Bangkok

Fed up with the polluted flood water in their area, about 200 residents from Tambon Lad Sawai of Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district yesterday tore up a 50metrewide section of the sandbag barrier along the lower Khlong Hok Wa. They also demanded that the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate, at the time open 20cm wide, be opened by one metre. The residents also sought more monetary compensation, clarity in water management and urged that the whole floodwall be turned into a weir instead.

BMA Drainage Office director Sanya Chinimit joined negotiations in the afternoon and initially agreed to open the sluice gate a metre wide.

The negotiations between the BMA and two groups of affected residents later led to an agreement to discuss the opening of the sluice gate again tomorrow, besides also discussing more flood aid.

Yesterday’s developments sent flood water towards Wongsakorn Market and Sai Mai Hospital in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district and caused the water level in the Sai Mai area, which was about 20cm deep, to rise by 4050cm. Downstream Sai Mai residents panicked and moved their belongings to higher ground.

The flood water will also pour into Khlong Sam Wa, Bangchan, Ramkhamhaeng, RamIndra, Bang Kapi before flowing into the Saen Saeb Canal.

Disaster expert Dr Arnon Sanidwong na Ayudhaya said the Bangchan Industrial Estate would be affected by the onemetrewide opening of the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate, and that Min Buri’s Suan Siam area, Bang Kapi and Wang Thong Lang would face more flooding.

Environment consultants Team Group issued a warning calling on residents in the following areas and districts to move up their belongings: Or Ngern, Khu Bon, Khan Na Yao Bangchan, Khlong Sam Wa, Min Buri – especially those living in lowlying areas and near waterways – and those living near Phraya Suren Canal.

Meanwhile, BMA Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said that he had heard about Lam Luk Ka residents destroying the sandbag embankment at the lower Khlong Hok Wa and would wait for the BMA Sewage Office to assess the impact. He said he had contacted national Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) directorgeneral Pracha Promnok to find solutions. Pracha promised to send police and soldiers to negotiate with the residents. The governor expressed concern that the demolition of floodwalls by the residents could lead to copycat behaviour, hence the BMA would keep an eye on it. He said a solution to the conflict lay in rational discussions, hence all sides must talk. He said Phaholyothin and Vibhavadi roads would be on close watch.

Meanwhile, negotiations between FROC spokesman Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen and residents upstream over the “big bag” embankment on Phaholyothin Road resulted in the authority opening some parts of the embankment in the form of a weir.

Pongsapat yesterday met 200 protesters from Sai Mai district and Tambon Khukhot, who had since Wednesday torn up small sandbags on top of the “bigbag” embankment and threatened to tear up the giant sandbags.

Later, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy clerk Somphop Rangabthuk said the negotiations led to an agreement that other than removal of the fourmetrewide top section of the sandbags, two more fivemetrewide sections of the top of the “big bag” floodwall would be opened in the form of a weir. The BMA would monitor the flood situation on Phaholyothin Road, Bang Khen and Khlong Bang Sue, he said. The water level inside and outside the barrier varied by 30cm.

Sukhumbhand commented to FM 102.75MHz that the partial opening of the “bigbag” barrier would not affect Bangkok as only the top sandbags were removed. Sukhumbhand said the Lat Phrao intersection, Phaholyothin and Ratchadaphisek had seen a drop in the flood level, while several spots on Thon Buri’s Rama II Road had started to dry, but Kanchanapisek Road remained critical. He said he was still focused on ending the flood in Bangkok as a New Year gift for Bangkokians and he was confident of achieving that provided there were no more runoffs.

The permanent secretary for Defence, General Sathien Permthongin, commented that the flood waters had receded and FROC was working hard to assist problematic areas. He urged all parties involved in the conflict over the “bigbag” embankments to meet each other half way. Visiting the medical team in front of Wat Dusitaram on the Thon Buri side and handing out relief bags to floodaffected people yesterday, Sathien said that the prime minister had already appointed a sevenmember committee for postflood rehabilitation. He said the Defence Ministry would keep the tools ready and the Army Engineer Department would be mainly in charge of repairing roads and water sources. The Armed Forces were inspecting vehicles and tools used in assisting flood victims, to see what sort of budget they will need from the government to repair and maintain them. Urging people in the “bigbag” barrier conflict to compromise, he said everyone must sympathise with one another as they were all affected and were all Thais.