No quick fix for flooding problem: PM Prayut

[webfact]

No quick fix for flooding problem: PM

By The Nation

 

 

PRAYUT LAMENTS LONG-STANDING ISSUES AND VOWS TO TAKE CARE OF AFFECTED PEOPLE

 

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said it was impossible for Thailand to be completely flood-free as long as there was no comprehensive overhaul of city planning, the water-drainage system or littering solutions. 

 

However, his government was ready to take care of all those affected. 

 

“Problems have already persisted for a long time,” he said. He also pointed out that several proposed solutions had been held up because of land expropriation problems and the huge amounts of money required.

 

Prayut spoke up after flooding hit many provinces in the country, including Bangkok, in the past week. 

 

The prime minister said some dykes needed to immediately discharge water to prevent a recurrence of the big floods seen during the 2011 flood crisis. 

 

“I know some rivers and canals are overflowing in areas without embankments … the government will take care of affected people,” he said. 

 

The Royal Irrigation Department’s deputy director general Thongplew Kongjun said Prayut had instructed the relevant agencies to communicate the latest flood information they had with each other and the public.

 

“The Agriculture Ministry and the Interior Ministry will work together in extending assistance to people in flood-hit areas,” Thongplew said. 

 

He added that the relevant authorities would inform people when his department expected the floods to subside. 

 

 

According to Thongplew, flooding from the Northeast stemmed from the fact that the Ubolrat Dam in Khon Kaen province had been forced to increase its volume of discharged water from 46 to 50 million cubic metres a day. 

 

As for the Chao Phraya River basin, Thongplew said Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani should no longer be affected by high tides after today. 

 

“Rain will also continue in Bangkok,” he said.

 

Agriculture Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said he would try to ensure that the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province would not release more than 2.600 cubic metres of water per second. 

 

“That way, only areas without an embankment along the Chao Phraya River will be affected,” he explained.

 

 

Meanwhile, heavy downpours continued to cause floods and landslides in various provinces yesterday. The latest victim was the director of Phetchabun’s Phupha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, whose pickup truck was caught in whirling floodwaters. 

 

The death of Sudjit Khorthong lifted the death toll in the latest floods to four, following three deaths that had been reported in Loei on October 10.

 

Sudjit’s body was retrieved at 9.30am at a spot three kilometres from the scene where his truck was found surrounded by torrential floodwater four and a half hours earlier in Tambon Pak Chong. His body will be sent for a funeral at a temple in Muang Phetchabun.

 

Sudjit was on his way to a meeting in Phitsanulok when his truck was swept into a roadside creek, police said. Sudjit reportedly travelled alone to the meeting because he had instructed his subordinates to join other officials in clearing a local road that had been affected by a landslide.

 

The pre-dawn Lom Sak landslide happened between kilometre markers No 375 and 376 on the Lom Sak- Chumpae road in Tambon Buan Klang. 

 

Meanwhile, locals were relieved after a crocodile that escaped from a breeding farm in Phetchabun on Saturday was re-captured yesterday morning, police said. 

 

The bloated Mun River in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Phimai district continued to flood three more tambons after two tambons were hit last week. State offices and homes in Tambon Nai Muang, Tambon Tha Luang, Tambon Bote, Tambon Than Lalod and Tambon Samrit as well as 4,000 rai (640 hectares) of paddy fields were submerged in up to 40cm of water. In Chaiyaphum, where six districts were flood-affected, army Region 2 soldiers were building a temporary bridge for about 1,000 families as the road to their 10 villages were made impassable by flooding. 

 

The increased levels of water released by Khon Kaen’s Ubolrat caused floods to downstream farmlands and homes in Nam Pong district.

 

The business area of Loei’s Dan Sai district was hit by run-off from several mountains at 2am yesterday after hours of heavy rain but thankfully, the water subsided at about 7am.

 

Mountain run-off caused the Nam Pad Canal to burst its banks and inundate Ban Nam Pad School in Pitsanulok’s None Maprang district at 5am. This was the 10th time this year the school had been submerged, the lowest points being the teachers’ residences and the schools’ cafeteria, which were under 1.5 metres of water before the flood finally subsided at 9am. 

 

In Lampang, an eight-rai area of Mae Mo municipality was declared a disaster zone after days of heavy rain opened wide cracks in the earth and eight homes were threatened by erosion. 

 

Mayor Chucheep Boonnak said the declaration followed an inspection by Mineral Resources Office 1 officials who believe the subsidence might stem from layers of soil separating after becoming saturated. Twenty-two tenants in eight affected homes also had to be evacuated.

 

In Phayao’s Muang district, soldiers yesterday waded through one-metre-deep water to save 40 pigs from a flooded farm in Tambon Huai Kaew.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30329526

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-18

[Thailand]

I guess if the ptb had not spent huge sums of money on second hand military equipment it could have been ussed for water management?

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, his government was ready to take care of all those affected

Maybe postpone elections a couple of more decades as they need to fix this first.

 

I am confident they will do well here as it is simpler and more straightforward than lottery prices (which they still didnt solve).

[bluesofa]

Of course there's a quick fix for the flooding problem: Under Article 44 the PM can just ban it.

Geez, he's been in power how long and hasn't a clue. (end sarcasm mode)

 

Edited October 18, 2017 by bluesofa

[DoctorG]

20 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Maybe postpone elections a couple of more decades as they need to fix this first.

 

I am confident they will do well here as it is simpler and more straightforward than lottery prices (which they still didnt solve).

and don't forget the twerking. That was very important too.

[lucjoker]

Responsables are the top 100 rich in Thailand.

So who could be the top influential people and billionaires in Thailand ?????

Fill in yourself.

They stole the money intended to govern this country,and protect each other because they have the judges ....eating out of their hand .

Those billionaires are helped by crooks (called :polititians )  who also make sure nothing is left . So there is never money to resolve real problems .

Democratie means ,you can choose which crook will govern you.

Maybe a dictator is better ? 

 

[fforest1]

The submarines will come in handy for transport when

it floods.... 

[Thian]

They took all the bins away in BKK, so scared for bombs.

 

So there is a anti-littering solution but Thailand is not ready for it.

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

PRAYUT LAMENTS LONG-STANDING ISSUES AND VOWS TO TAKE CARE OF AFFECTED PEOPLE

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said it was impossible for Thailand to be completely flood-free as long as there was no comprehensive overhaul of city planning, the water-drainage system or littering solutions. 

to lament: to wail, keen, cry, moan, weep, sob

It's really quite pathetic for a 10-star general to do that kind of thing. Anyway, once he has found his composure, after kissing a frog or two, here is the solution: city planning - fire the whole incompetent lot and hire experts (no, not nephews). Littering - fine for littering 10,000 baht or more. Drainage system - stop the submarine purchase and use the money to improve the drainage. How to implement? Article 44 + cojones.

Edited October 18, 2017 by klauskunkel

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

could have been ussed for water management?

doesnt appear the thais are capable of it; bring in real water management experts , the Dutch ? might look into the bangkok sinking issue with those same people/experts at about the same time

[Katipo]

No quick fix..... well it's only been six years since the 2011 flooding. 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

3 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

doesnt appear the thais are capable of it; bring in real water management experts , the Dutch ? might look into the bangkok sinking issue with those same people/experts at about the same time

They are. The last elected government approved B 35 bn for a warer management system and K water was appointed to do the job. Then came the junta and canceled the K water agreement and used this money for drought relief.

[MaxLee]

So in other words they don't care,..... surprised 

[wvavin]

Did I read wrongly that a "huge amount of money is needed"? So high speed rail, submarines and tanks are more important than flood problem?

[AlQaholic]

Take away all the natural floodplains, block all klongs, and whaddayaget?

[MorristheRunt]

Maybe Sir, Thailand's money would be best spent trying to end this problem and not buying unnecessary outdated Chinese military toys, especially when Thailand is under NO military threat.

[Eric Loh]

No quick fix to flooding, corruption, reconciliation, economy, police reform.... excuses just piled up. More successes in clearing street vendors, beach chairs and lottery. A wasteful 4 years for Thailand. 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The prime minister said some dykes needed to immediately discharge water to prevent a recurrence of the big floods seen during the 2011 flood crisis. 

Who thought flood control management was so complicated?

It was easy to hold Yingluck for a failed program but not so easy for 3-year PM Prayut to hold himself responsible.

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

Who thought flood control management was so complicated?

It was easy to hold Yingluck for a failed program but not so easy for 3-year PM Prayut to hold himself responsible.

He is totally right to discharge the water, that was the error (on purpose) YL her government made. I don't blame her for the flooding nor do I blame Prayut for the flooding now. Though releasing water is important and prevents an other 2011 from happening. 

 

But I do blame all governments for not doing more. Problems is new government cancel plans of old governments Prayut has a great new plan against flooding many billions of baht.. but I bet it will be cancelled just like YL her plans got cancelled. 

 

Maybe if a goverment gets to power and starts right away with the flooding problem then they can have some results in their 4 years. But plans that spill over to other governments get cancelled as they all want their cut from the brown envelopes.

 

If its true what southern star said about Prayut having cancelled the flood prevention of YL then I do blame him for this even though its standard operating procedure of all governments to cancel the deals of previous governments to get their cut. 

 

This country needs more water management, maybe that Payut can use article 44 to make his plans go through and make sure they can't be cancelled. Really some long term planning is needed here.. and 4 years (maybe would) is just to short with planning checking and then building.

[houstoniron]

There is a multitude of problems facing the city of Pattaya with respect to flooding; the main cause is almost similar to that of Houston, Texas. That is the unfettered expansion of developments in housing in businesses.  This unchecked expansion removes naturally draining areas and replaces them with concrete that does not allow natural drainage. Thus rainwater is channeled into areas for which the drainage system was not designed, hence these area flood regularly. This coupled with the other correctable sources of drainage such as drainage ditches fouled with debris, dumping of cooking fats into the sewer etc. is the main cause of the endemic floods we endure.
 

Unfortunately for those of us that live Pattaya year round, there is no easy fix, just as there is no easy fix for Houston and other similar cities. Effective flood control involves strict controls on development and redesign of the complete Pattaya drainage system. I think all have seen that the pumps on beach road have little or no impact. The problem cannot be solved by a series of cheap band aides. That is a waste of money. The same applies to Bangkok. It has to be all or nothing.
 

The likelihood of resolving Pattaya’s flood problems is not high so we should all get used to perpetual flooding problems and all the issues that come with it,

 

[DM07]

No quick fix?

For a problem, that is as old as Siam itself?

Fantastic!

 

[Eric Loh]

Post 2011 flood, Thailand got lots of help from World Bank, Unesco and JICA to support post flood recovery and long term prevention projects. JICA drew a master plan and the then government incorporated some of the ideas for short-term mitigation and long term flood prevention measures. A new organisation was planned to implement these projects. Unfortunately post coup saw the plan scrapped. A major project like flood prevention will need long term coordinated support from successive governments and should be apolitical. Have anyone heard of Prayut's flood prevention plan?

[sawadeeken]

With the same consideration and money that is spend on 'Submarines' He wouldn't have to bow his head in shame and say THAT (about flooding)............... But tonight he will still look in the mirror of his lovely home and admire himself (as one of the world's greatest), as usual....

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

I guess if the ptb had not spent huge sums of money on second hand military equipment it could have been ussed for water management?

I dunno, Subs will feel quite at home in Thailand's flooded depths soon - garbage aside of course.

[Lupatria]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

However, his government was ready to take care of all those affected.

Well, if that's not a convenient reason to cling to power for the next 20 years...

[sawadeeken]

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Post 2011 flood, Thailand got lots of help from World Bank, Unesco and JICA to support post flood recovery and long term prevention projects. JICA drew a master plan and the then government incorporated some of the ideas for short-term mitigation and long term flood prevention measures. A new organisation was planned to implement these projects. Unfortunately post coup saw the plan scrapped. A major project like flood prevention will need long term coordinated support from successive governments and should be apolitical. Have anyone heard of Prayut's flood prevention plan?

"Have anyone heard of Prayut's flood prevention plan?"........... Does he have a plan???? Or just excuses???

[Chris Lawrence]

A flood mitigation was designed in 2007/08 by Thai top professor. When Mr T was turfed out it was up to Abhisit and the Mad Monk Suthep to implement the plan during their reign. The Governor of Bangkok objected as some work could block a few views of restaurant's?

 

"Mr Abhisit, who lives in Sukhumvit Soi 31 in Watthana district, sent a message via the Line application that his house had been flooded for the first time and that his car had been damaged." www.bangkokpost.com 15/10/2017

 

From 10 October to 19 November 2010, major floods hit north and northeast, central, and then southern Thailand. More than 230 people were killed and more than seven million people in 25,00 villages were affected by the flooding. The 2011 rainy season, which started at the end of the Abhisit-government, brought the worst flooding that Thailand had seen in 50 years. Hundreds died, and Bangkok was flooded. Abhisit went to the Maldives. Abhisit government's unwillingness in 2009 and 2010 to provide a requested four billion baht overhaul of its radar and modeling systems may have helped?

 

The problem with the floods is that they will always be there. The people it may help don't matter and the people that matter won't make money. Water mitigation is no tiger tank or submarine. There lies the problem. Abhisit passed it over, Suthep passed it over and it went to a junior minister who had no power to spend billions of baht on a project that would not bring in income.

.

[newcomer71]

Yes, good general, there is no quick fix for it, but in 3 years and half you did not do anything to improve the situation, right? Your toys were way more important...

[Ulic]

The general already promised there would be no flooding which means there is nothing

to fix. So no problem, not complicated at all.

[Charlie1]

"...no quick fix...". <deleted>? How many years more you need?