Dam added to Chao Phraya flood plan

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Dam added to Chao Phraya flood plan

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Engineer questions purpose and scope of Bt18-billion project in Ayutthaya.

A PLAN to build a new dam in the main tributary of the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya has been revealed by the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) as part of its Bang Ban-Bang Sai drainage canal project.

 

Following Cabinet approval in principle for its flood and drought prevention plan for the Chao Phraya River Basin on Tuesday, the RID disclosed that the drainage canal would be one of the most important projects to solve flooding problems in Ayutthaya province.

 

It was further stated yesterday that a dam would be constructed to divert water to the newly built canal and enhance water management in the lower Chao Phraya River.

 

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Irrigation Project director Bowdaeng Thakaew said the Bang Ban-Bang Sai drainage canal project had not yet officially started, as the RID had to wait for full project approval from the Cabinet next week, adding that the department had already laid out a draft plan for the project.

 

“The main project will be 23-kilometre-long canal, which will run from the Chao Phraya River in Bang Ban district and empty into the Chao Phraya River in Bang Sai district. This canal will have a water-drainage capacity of around 1,200 cubic metres per second, which would effectively solve the water drainage problem at the narrow point of the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya,” Bowdaeng said. He added that the new dam would be a part of the project.

 

“We have to build a new barrage dam in the river to divert water to the new canal. This dam will also help improve water management in the lower reach of the Chao Phraya River, because the most downstream dam in the main tributary of the river is the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat.”

 

He added that the new canal and dam would solve flood problems in Ayutthaya. The canal was meant to boost water drainage from the Chao Phraya in flood season and reduce the severity of floods in the province, where there are many industrial estates and major investments.

 

Bowdaeng said the dam would also benefit water management and be a useful irrigation tool during both flood and drought periods. The estimated budget for the project was Bt18 billion.

 

According to the RID, the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya is narrower than in its upstream and downstream sections. As natural water flow can only reach 1,200 cubic metres per second, Ayutthaya often faces river overflow and floods during the wet season.

 

A water resource engineering professor from Kasetsart University, Sitang Pilailar, said the project could mitigate flood problems in Ayutthaya. However, judging on the size and budget, the project might be too big and expensive for flood prevention task only, she added.

 

“I don’t know the real purpose of the new dam in this project. If we want to divert water to the new canal, we can just install water sluices,” Sitang said.

 

She added that a project of this size and scope would have to pass an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study. She also asked how the RID planned to conduct maintenance on the project during the dry season, because such a canal could be damaged if there were low water levels.

 

Bowdaeng said the RID would start detailed planning and conduct an EIA with the view to starting construction in 2019 if the Cabinet approves the plan next week.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30327256

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-21

[eliotness]

'Have to pass an EIA study"?

Not under this junta it won't.