Sluice gate harmony

Fisherman have replaced angry residents at the Phraya Suren sluice gate where, according to Froc director Pracha Promnok, the conflict has been settled.

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People fish near the Phraya Suren sluice gate in Sai Mai district. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has ordered that it be opened to 1.3 metres. WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE

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BMA raises four sluice gates

Relief in sight as water level in canals drops

Supoj Wancharoen
Pakawat Sunpituksaree
  
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has agreed to raise four more sluice gates to allow water from neighbouring Pathum Thani province to flow into canals now that the floodwater in many Bangkok areas has receded.

He also agreed to lift the controversial Khlong Phraya Suren watergate from 1m to 1.3m.

MR Sukhumbhand said yesterday water levels in major canals have fallen. This meant several inner areas would not be at risk of flooding.

As the situation was not worrying, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will raise four major sluice gates on the northern and eastern sides of Bangkok to allow northern run-off to flow into the canals, he said. As well as Khlong Phraya Suren, the other three sluice gates are Khlong Sam Wa, Lam Bueng Khwang and Lat Krabang.

The Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate will be raised from 80cm to 90cm to allow floodwater from Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka to flow into Khlong Saen Saep before the water is drained into a giant water tunnel between Rama 9 and Ramkhamhaeng roads.

The Lam Bueng Khwang and Lat Krabang sluice gates will be lifted from 1m to 1.2m to drain water from Lam Luk Ka to Khlong Prawet before the water is drained to the sea through the water tunnel, the governor said.

He thanked Lum Luk Ka residents who had lowered the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice from 1.5m to its normal level of 1m early yesterday before he decided to raise the gate to 1.3m.

The Bangkok governor had earlier refused to negotiate with Pathum Thani residents after they raised the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate to 1.5m on two occasions without permission. The furious residents were led by Pol Maj Sa-ngiam Samranrat, a red shirt leader and a political office holder at the Prime Minister's Office.

Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) director Pracha Promnok said yesterday the conflict at Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate was settled.

He also insisted that Pol Maj Sa-ngiam was in no way affiliated with the Froc or its operations.

When asked what the Froc would do if there are more people asking for the gate to be widened further, he said: "It is under the Bangkok governor's authority to order the gate opened or closed but I don't think any issue is likely to arise."

Weera Wongsaengnak, the Froc's water drainage panel head and former deputy chief of the Royal Irrigation Department, said the situation in Bangkok west of the Chao Phraya River was still unfolding.

"We have been experiencing high tides for the past two weeks but it is now over and the Chao Phraya River should continue to see decreases in water levels and west Bangkok should be dry by Dec 20," he said.

sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
harmony – when people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together ความสามัคคี
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
relief – help; assistance การช่วยให้พ้นภัย
in sight – of something that is likely to happen soon, especially an improvement of some kind น่าจะเกิดขึ้นเร็ว ๆ นี้
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
raise – to lift; to move something to a higher level ยกขึ้น
neighbouring – located or living near or next to a place or person  ติดกัน, ที่อยู่ใกล้เคียง, ที่ตั้งอยู่ใกล้เคียง
flow – (of a liquid) to move continuously in one direction ไหล
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
controversial – causing disagreement ซึ่งก่อให้เกิดการโต้แย้ง
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
situation – all the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place  สถานการณ์
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
tunnel – an underground passage อุโมงค์
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
normal – typical, usual or ordinary; what you would expect ภาวะปกติ
refuse – to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do ปฏิเสธ
negotiate – to try to reach an agreement by discussing something in a formal way เจรจาต่อรอง
occasion – a time at which something happens โอกาส
permission – allowing someone to do something การอนุญาต,การอนุมัติ,การยินยอม
furious – extremely angry ซึ่งโกรธจัด
Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง
settled – reached a formal agreement that ends a disagreement ทำข้อตกลง
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
affiliated – having a connection with an organisation ผูกพัน
operations – the activity or work done in an area of business, industry or government ปฎิบัติการ
authority – power อำนาจ
issue – a problem that needs to be considered ประเด็น
arise – to happen as a result of a particular situation  เกิดขึ้น
panel – a group of people who make decisions or judgments คณะกรรมการ
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
chief – a person with a high rank or the highest rank in a company or an organisation  หัวหน้า, ผู้นำ
Royal Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
unfold – to happen, or to develop ปรากฏออกมา
tide – the regular rise and fall of the level of the sea (the tides) ปรากฏการณ์น้ำขึ้นน้ำลง, กระแสน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง
decrease – to become less ลดลง, น้อยลง