Bangkok a vast lakebed - and here comes the rain
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In 36 years I’ve rarely witnessed such ferocious rainstorms as we’ve experienced over the last few weeks. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra blamed the heaviest rain in 25 years for flooding in many parts of the city.
As anticipated, several “experts” are blaming the municipality’s negligence and calling for the governor’s sacking. But even with an “MR” in front of his name, Sukhumbhand, like King Canute, cannot control rainfall or stop the flow of water.
Water tends to flow downhill. That’s why Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai is blessed with many magnificent waterfalls.
Blame the siting of Bangkok 234 years ago, the filling-in of canals for roadways, the drilling of thousands of artesian wells, the lack of zoning, over-building and so on. The result of all this is that many areas of the city lie below sea level. No amount of irrigation tunnels, drainage channels or water pumps will remove floodwater from the city when the Chao Phraya River is swollen and at high tide. The only temporary solution is the creation of scores of “monkey cheeks”, as espoused by His Majesty the King many years ago.
Without the foresight, experience, commitment of resources and the engineering skills of the Dutch, flooding in Bangkok is going to get worse year by year. Citizens will just have to get used to it – or go live up a mountain!
John L Sheppard
