Bangkok Braces For Another Wet Season

BMA braces for another wet season

BANGKOK: -- Manpower and equipment have been mobilised to prevent flooding in Bangkok during the rainy season, and the city’s drainage department has pinpointed 14 areas as weak points.

“All 14 flood-risk areas are low land, which are usually underwater part of the year. If the quantity of rain is more than 60 millimeters an hour, the drains in the areas won’t be able to cope with the water,” said Teeradej Tungpraprutkul, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s drainage department.

All of the areas are some distance from the Chao Phya River, which provides drainage, and in many cases rubbish and other objects obstruct the drainage canals in these areas, he said.

The flood-risk areas are Prachasongklao road, Sanam Pao, Chaeng Wattana 14, Saparnkwai, Rama 6, Ratchathevi-Pratunam, Siam Square, New Petchaburi Road, Lat Phrao 10, Sukhumvit 62-Bang Na, Srinakarin road, Chan Road and Phetkasem road.

The number of flood-risk areas in the city has been reduced from 16 last year.

In case of electricity outages, the BMA has prepared 250 drainage machines, of which 50 are powered by diesel generators and 16 by electric generators. An 800-man emergency team has also been established to deal with problems in the flood-prone areas.

“We are certain that we can cope with floods better than we did last year. No areas will be flooded for more than two hours if the levels of rainwater do not exceed 90 millimetres an hour,” Teeradej said.

Teeradej added that 3,700 kilometres of the 5500-km network of city drains had been cleaned and the rest would be cleared by August. In addition, he said, the entire 1,285-km network of canals would be dredged by September.

The efficiency of the city’s water-pumping stations has been improved to draw 1,700 cubic-metres of water a second.

“An 86-km long water barrier along the side of Chao Phya River is 80 per cent complete. The other areas without the barrier will be temporarily protected by sandbags,” he said.

Terradej said in case of heavy rain, the flood teams would be on 24-hour standby to clear items obstructing drains. The flood-prevention centre also has a 24-hour information service that can be reached by calling (02) 246 0 3179.

The BMA’s long-term solution includes trying to reduce the number of flood-risk areas by lifting road levels and excavating canals in those areas to drain flood water, he said. Moreover, a flood-forecasting system that would tell people and staff about which areas would be seriously hit by rain is being installed and will be completed next year.

--TNA 2005-06-09