Minister jumps into BMA sandbags row
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit and officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) pull a sandbag out of a drainage pipe on Srinakarin Road.
The latest row between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and government ministers concerns sandbags found in drainage pipes on Srinakarin Road. Both sides are pointing fingers at each other.
Speaking as chair of the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said yesterday he would set up a committee to find out why the BMA opted to “block” the drains.
“BMA’s duty is to facilitate water drainage, not block it,” he said.
On Sunday, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials decided to check some drainage pipes on Srinakarin Road and found sandbags in them.
In response to this, a BMA official filed a complaint with the Hua Mark Police Station.
However, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday the sandbags had been put there to ensure that Hua Mark Canal did not flood low-lying portions of Srinakarin Road.
Piboon Klubprasit, a senior official at the BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department, said the road was far lower than the canal and hence, sandbags were necessary.
“We have used a similar technique at many other spots as well,” he said.
Sukhumbhand reiterated that |the sandbags had been placed there to prevent flooding.
He firmly dismissed claims the sandbags were placed in the hope of causing floods and put the blame on to the central government.
“Removal of the sandbags can be seen as a violation of the Constitution. Article 266 of the Constitution bars political-office holders from interfering in the works of permanent officials,” Sukhum-bhand said.
The city governor vowed to take harsh action against anyone who repeats this offence.
Spokesman Wasan Meewong said the BMA’s job was to manage the city’s water drainage system and the WFMC had no mandate to interfere.
“If the WFMC has any doubts, it should ask the BMA in writing and make some recommendations,” he said.
Prompong, meanwhile, remain-ed defiant and challenged the BMA to launch a police complaint against him. “I am ready to produce evidence in court,” he claimed.
