Latest plan to save Bangkok

Time is running short as the ICT minister details the latest plan to save the most populated part of the city, but the Bangkok governor has doubts.

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Govt sacrifices eastern Bangkok

Sukhumbhand insists on control of city canals
  
POST REPORTERS

In a bid to save the economic heart of the capital amid surging water levels, the government has finally opted to use the eastern part of Bangkok to drain massive amounts of floodwaters from the northern outskirts.

A man stands knee-deep in water from the Chao Phraya River which flowed into Suna Santi Chaiprakarn Park on Phra Arthit Road yesterday. The river's water level has risen in Bangkok's old districts, forcing riverbank communities to raise flood barriers.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap yesterday said the government has to save the heart of Bangkok which is densely populated and housed important economic areas. Its protection would speed up rehabilitation of other parts of the country.

Mr Anudit said flood concerns had arisen at Lat Krabang Industrial Estate in Lat Krabang district and authorities were trying to protect the compound.

The drainage of floodwaters through eastern Bangkok will affect seven of its districts, namely Sai Mai, Klong Sam Wa, Kannayao, Min Buri, Lat Krabang, Bang Khen and Nong Chok.

From the eastern part of the capital, floodwaters will be diverted to Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan and then flow into the Gulf of Thailand.

The Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) last night warned people in five provinces in the Central Plains including Bangkok to move belongings to high ground to brace for more floodwaters.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, the centre's director, said the Froc will issue immediate warnings if the flood situations in those areas worsen and people have to evacuate their homes.

Torrents of flood water sweep through a road in Khlong Ha knocking down power poles and flood barriers in the Rangsit area of Pathum Thani. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

The warning was issued after Chalit Damrongsak, director-general of the Irrigation Department, reported that floodwaters from Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were flowing at 120 million cubic metres per second to eastern Bangkok, 100 million cu m/s to western Bangkok and 480 million cu m/s from 300,000 rai of fields from the Raphiphat canal to the Rangsit Prayoonsak canal north of Bangkok.

The massive surge of floodwaters had led to unsuccessful attempts to block water from entering the capital with layers of dykes in Pathum Thani province. Powerful floodwaters are breaking through the dykes and expanding in areas of Pathum Thani, gradually closing in on the capital.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra also issued the first warning of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday for people in seven districts of the city to move their belongings to high ground and prepare for possible evacuation. He also ordered an evacuation of about 1,400 families living by Khlong Hok Wa and Khlong 2 canals.

More than 8 billion cu m of floodwaters are flowing from Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani towards Bangkok.

The Chao Phraya River discharges less than 200 million cu m/day while attempts to divert floodwater via the east and west of the capital can drain only about 86 million cu m daily.

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, an adviser to the centre's director, said Bangkok would have to help its outskirts drain the floodwaters.

She also recommended that Bangkok's eastern ring road from Bang Na to Bang Pa-in should effectively function as an eastern dyke of the capital.

The government also wants to drain floodwaters through three canals in inner Bangkok, namely the Song Ton Noon, Saen Saep and Prawet canals.

But MR Sukhumbhand yesterday said the drainage through the canals would be limited. "If we are able to fully receive floodwater [through the canals], we will do that but we must wait for the rains to stop. If we are safe from rain and need not limit water [in the canals], we will open them. The BMA must manage risks," he said.

Asked if the refusal to open the inner canals would affect the water level in Khlong Rangsit, MR Sukhumbhand said Khlong Rangsit was not his responsibility but the government's.

sacrifice – to give up important or valuable things, so that you or other people can have or do something else เสียสละเพื่อส่วนรวม
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
bid – an attempt to do something ความพยายาม
amid – during the time when something else is happening ท่ามกลาง
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
opt – to make a choice or a decision from a range of possibilities  เลือก
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
massive – very large in size, amount or number ใหญ่โต
outskirts – the areas at the edge of a city  ชานเมือง
knee – the joint between the top and bottom parts of the leg where it bends in the middle หัวเข่า
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
densely populated – having large numbers of people living there
rehabilitation – making a system, building, etc., suitable for use again, i.e., bringing it back to a good condition การฟื้นฟูสภาพ
concern – a worry ความกังวล
arise – to happen as a result of a particular situation  เกิดขึ้น
industrial estate – an area of land where industrial companies have their buildings นิคมอุตสาหกรรม
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
compound – an area enclosed by a fence or wall in which people work or live บริเวณ
divert – to cause something to change direction เบนเส้นทางเดินน้ำ
Flood Relief Operations Centre – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
issue – to announce something officially ออกประกาศ
immediate – happening or done now, without any delay ทันทีทันใด
evacuate – to leave a place because it is not safe อพยพออกจากพื้นที่
torrent – a large amount of water flowing rapidly and violently กระแสน้ำเชี่ยว,การไหลพุ่
(Royal) Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a channel dug to take water away from an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
expand – to make or become larger ขยาย
gradually – slowly and in small stages or amounts อย่างทีละน้อย
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
discharge – to let a liquid flow out ปล่อยออก, ขับออก
adviser – a person who gives advice, especially somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject ที่ปรึกษา
outskirts – the areas at the edge of a city  ชานเมือง
recommend – to advise someone that they should do something  แนะนำ
ring road – a road that goes around a large town or city, for keeping traffic away from the town centre ถนนวงแหวนรอบนอก
function – to perform the action or the job of the thing or person mentioned ทำหน้าที่
limited – not very great in amount or extent จำกัด
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
responsibility – a duty ความรับผิดชอบ, ความรับผิดชอบ