PM satisfied with Bangkok water flow testing

September 6, 2012

BANGKOK, Sept 6 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday said she was satisfied with the water flow testing in Bangkok’s canals to help evaluate the effectiveness of the drainage systems protecting the western and eastern sides of the capital.

Testing for the western approaches to Bangkok was completed Wednesday and the eastern side will be conducted on Friday.

The overall testing was completed satisfactorily --both in terms of the performance of government officials and the flow of water, she said. The government-appointed Water and Flood Management Committee (WFMC) will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the canals to drain water into the sea.

In the country's first such test, river water was released in Bangkok's west to examine and evaluate the efficiency of canals and pumps in carrying the surge away to the sea.

Duing the test, seven cubic metres per second of water from the Thawi Watthana Water Gate was discharged into Thawi Watthana canal and coursed through Phasi Charoen canal before flowing into Bang Waek and out through the Phraya Ratchamontri canal and the Tha Chin River.

The weak point in the western area was where the Thawi Watthana Canal's watercourse narrows near Phetkasem Soi 69 and the current slows from a speed of 45 cubic metres per second to 10 cubic metres per second.

The water committee will run a drainage test in eastern Bangkok on Friday, from 2pm to 4pm. The water gate at Klong Song Canal will be opened and release water at the rate of 3 cubic metres per second.

Water will flow through Klong Thanon canal beside Phahonyothin Road, Klong Lat Phrao Canal, Rama 9 flood diversion tunnel, into the Chao Phraya River. More water will flow from the Bang Bau and Bang Khen canals to the Chao Phraya River.

The water agency is testing the efficiency of the Rama IX flood diversion tunnel and Bang Bau and Bang Khen canals. They have found Bang Khen Canal will be a weak point for the test, as water will flow close to Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Lat Phrao Soi 56.

Meanwhile, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the government flood prevention system was not complete, as it has caused flooding in Ayutthaya's rice fields, forcing farmers to make an early harvest for their rice.

He said the flood drainage test is a government policy so that if there is fall out from the test – such as flooding in Bangkok, the government must find a solution to resolve the problems.

Mr Abhisit said that according to lessons learned from last year's massive flood, the flood drainage into the Gulf of Thailand should not only flow into Bangkok alone but it should also be diverted to the eastern suburbs of Bangkok such as via Samut Prakarn which could drain the water more quickly. (MCOT online news)

View the full article