BMA focuses on flood management
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Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is reviewing its 2012 budget plan in the wake of the flood crisis - to give greater emphasis to water management.
“We have to do everything possible to prevent flooding,” Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.
He said some projects might be put on hold to prioritise work related to flood prevention.
“It’s important that we solve water-related problems,” he said, adding that he did not want to see such a big flood recur.
This year, one of the worst floods in the country’s history ravaged dozens of provinces including Bangkok. More than 600,000 Bangkok residents suffered direct impacts.
The flood this time was not a result of downpours over the capital, but massive run-off from upper parts of the country.
“Our current water-drainage system is designed to deal with rainfall and some overflowing rivers or canals. It can’t cope with the huge amount of run-off water from upstream provinces,” Sukhumbhand explained.
Ongoing projects such as giant tunnels would continue because though not designed to deal with run-off, they would help facilitate the flow of water.
“But I hope we can work with the central government in creating flood-ways,” Sukhumbhand said.
The governor said it was possible to create flood-ways outside Bangkok to direct run-off east into the Bang Pakong River and west into the Tha Chin River.
“But the government must take care of people in Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and Chachoengsao who may be affected by the flood-way,” he said.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon, meanwhile, said that there were between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes of excess garbage in the capital now.
“We will seek help from the armed forces’ development units,” he said, “Together, we should be able to clear the excess garbage within 20 days of the joint mission starting”.
Most of the excess garbage was in flood-ravaged areas such as Don Mueang, Sai Mai, and Bang Khen, he said.
