Canals below sea level are useless
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Re: "Is the government capable of learning flood lessons?", Letters, September 12
Please excuse me for repeating myself:
The parts of klongs for flood control built below sea level are useless, as the water below that level simply sits there and has no place to go without pumping.
The most efficient and effective flow of water is in a straight line, but the current configuration of the Chao Phraya River is highly inefficient and ineffective, so the river should be straightened;
The southwest corner at the mouth of the Chao Phraya would be a good place for a huge relief canal for the river, probably extremely wide with a bottom no lower than sea level at low tide.
Guy Baker
Bangkok
