FROC admits drying city's west a tough task

Weera Wongsaengnak, head of the FROC's waterdrainage panel, said Bangkok’s flood crisis was nearly over, as there were fewer and fewer flooded areas, while water in the northern and eastern parts of the capital was limited to floodretention fields. These areas don’t naturally drain into canals, however, so officials would have to pump them dry, Weera said.

The Rangsit, Siwalee and other housing estates downstream of the Rangsitprayoonsak Canal remained flooded, with some areas under water as high as 60cm, so officials planned to use pumps to drain them. Parts of VibhavadiRangsit Road were still flooded, but officials hoped to have them dry in seven to 10 days. 

Weera admitted that the situation in western Bangkok remained worrying; the bowlshaped area would take longer than eastern Bangkok to dry, while canals linking the area with the Tha Chin River still had high water levels. He said officials would try to dry the area by December 15, or by year’s end at the latest, while the FROC would continue to hold weekly meetings to assess the water situation in affected provinces. 

Weera said a meeting of the FROC and seven provincial governors scheduled for tomorrowDecember 7 would review each province’s floodtackling measures and required assistance from the government. 

As the country celebrated the King’s birthday yesterday, CNN International anchor and correspondent Anna Coren reported on the King’s suggestions about water management, flood drainage and prevention made a decade ago – and also that the authorities didn’t implement the suggestions until the recent flood disaster occurred. Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun also gave an interview about times in the past when the King regularly visited all parts of Thailand to help the Thai people, and that this is the reason he is so beloved.