Ayutthaya flood work '40% complete'
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Flood prevention work in Ayutthaya province was on track to prevent any repeat of last year's disaster, according to the Water Resources Department.
Officials from the water agency, who visited Ayutthaya’s Senah district yesterday to inspect the progress of flood prevention work in the area, found about 40 per cent of construction had been done.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed |the department to improve the water flow rate and water retention capacity in Ayutthaya and nearby areas by dredging canals and “monkey cheeks” retention areas.
About 22 projects were underway. They aim to reduce the amount of floodwater that flows into Amphoe Muang Ayutthaya, which was severely affected by flooding last year.
The Department expected that the 22 projects would prevent nearly 8 million cubic metres of water flowing into the city and down to Bangkok.
In Senah district, it has teamed up with the Defence Ministry to dredge seven canals, which could retain some 699,930 cubic metres of water. And 7,500 rai of paddy fields were earmarked to become one “monkey cheek” – or water retention area. This could hold about 200,000 cubic metres of water, they said.
The department will also install two water pumps to drain water out from the area. These machines were capable of draining 1,620 cubic metres of water per second.
“The construction work started in March and is expected to be finished by the end of this month,” Teeravuth Pradith, chief of Water Resources Division 2, said.
After the work is finished, the water flow rate is expected to rise from 20 cubic metres a second to 40 cubic metres per second.
Senah district is inundated with water at least one metre deep from September to December every year.
Dares Youngnuk, a 46-year-old local resident, said his house |was flooded every year. But he |was familiar with this, as it |had been like that all this life – |so he had learnt how to adapt |and cope.
“Last year’s flood was not the first time I’ve had to face a bad situation. I have experienced severe floods every year and now I know how to prepare myself to deal with flood situations,” he said.
Every year, Dares prepares his things and moves them to higher ground. He has had to raise his house above the flood level. He also has two boats to travel in during the flood period.
Asked if he was confident about the construction work preventing a flood this year, he said he was not so sure about the plan.
“I’ve only seen local authorities dredging canals and the river near my house a few days ago,” he said.
Suchart Karnlueksom, head of Ban Poh local council, said his agency wanted provincial officials to provide more rescue boats to save people’s lives. His agency had only 10 boats to transport hundreds villagers in the area, he said.
