Thai King Expresses Concern Over Floods; Death Toll Rises To 150

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King expresses concern over floods; Death toll rises to 150

BANGKOK, Nov 6 -- Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has expressed concern over the current severe flooding in Thailand, as the number of people who have perished in flood-related matters has climbed to 150 by early Saturday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told journalists that HM the King expressed worries during his audience with the King at Siriraj Hospital on Friday.

According to Mr Abhisit, the monarch suggested that a long-term solution to flooding problem in the country, including improving water drainage system and building more projects to prevent floods along the Chao Phraya River and other waterways and canals, must be made in future.

The King reportedly said feasibility studies and impact assessment are needed because different technical aspects would apply affecting people in some areas, Mr Abhisit quoted him as saying.

Mr Abhisit said he had told the king that there are several areas where "Monkey's Cheek" water retention areas could be built to store excessive water during monsoon season and building could start immediately if the land belongs to the state.

He said he had told the king that concerned government agencies are surveying areas where floodwaters could be drained into the sea in order to eliminate the problem.

The Monkey's Cheek Project (Kaem Ling) is a water retention system, initiated by HM the King, for the flooding season to prevent or reduce flooding in the lower Chao Phraya River by draining the waterways such as ditches and canals into small reservoirs. This is similar to the monkey holding food in its cheeks. Water is drained into the sea when the tidal water level falls.

Mr Abhisit, scheduled to visit the central province of Nakhon Sawan later Saturday to present funds to 14 families whose members drowned in the floods and to distribute relief supplies to flood victims, said people should monitor weather forecast closely because the tropical depression is still hovering over Thailand, affecting the weather.

He said concerned agencies plan to pump floodwaters from areas where floods had receded Saturday.

Stressing that the government has sufficient budget to assist flood victims, Mr Abhisit, however, admitted that the government would be unable to compensate every victim.

The premier is scheduled to inspect the flood situation in the southern provinces on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced that a total of 150 people died nationwide since the flood began October 10 to the present.

About 746,000 homes in 30 provinces were damaged, it said.

As floods continued ravaging several parts of the country, the department urged people living in the two northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Phayao and the northeastern province of Udon Thani to cover themselves with sufficient clothing as chilly weather had arrived. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-06

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HM the King is keenly concerned over flood victims in the country

BANGKOK, 6 November 2010 (NNT) - Following his audience with His Majesty the King to report on the situation in the country on Friday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said His Majesty showed his keen concern over flood victims in the country and granted the guidelines for long-term solutions.

Mr Abhisit pointed out that His Majesty the King emphasized a thorough study on water drainage system in the prevention of prolonged flooding in the Chao Phraya River Basin, including a comprehensive consideration of consequences, as there remained conflicts in academic views, with possible impacts on the people.

As for the "Kaem Ling" water retention project at royal initiatives, the Prime Minister said he reported to His Majesty that the project could be accelerated in public areas, but where people were involved, further study and understanding needed to be made. He viewed that several projects at His Majesty's initiatives had contributed to faster solutions to the most recent flooding, compared to events in the past.

The Prime Minister remarked that there would not be any more borrowing for the supervision and rehabilitation of flooded areas, as the normal budget could be diverted, along with unused expenditure, for the purpose.

-- NNT 2010-11-06