Thai Academics Question Moves Used To Stop Flood

[webfact]

Academics question moves used to stop flood

The Nation

The Department of Irrigation yesterday came under attack from academics for using conventional methods of draining the unusually high volume of flood water into canals north of Bangkok, which they said would not save inner Bangkok from flooding.

Dr Seri Suapathit, director of the Disaster Warning Centre at Rangsit University, said Bankgok has not escaped the flood crisis yet. Although a large mass of run-off water had passed Bangkok, the capital still faced a high tide at the end of the month. If the department failed to properly manage water in Rangsit-area canals extending from Pathum Thani, there was still a chance that Bangkok would flood.

"The department must reach an understanding with the locals who oppose drainage work, otherwise efforts to drain water will be further delayed,'' he said.

Dr Suthat Weerasakul of the Asian Institute of Technology said conventional water-management methods will not save Bangkok from floods because of the unusually large amount of water involved.

The academics said roads in Pathum Thani are currently blocking the flow of flood water to canals. They urged the Department of Irrigation to turn the roads into drainage channels.

If this is not done, they say, the water could overflow canals in Rangsit and flood first northern Bangkok, then the inner city. The roads should be dug out to about 5 metres, they say, and could be made passable by temporary bridges built over each.

He said if the roads were cut to allow flood waters to flow into drainage canals, eastern districts of Bangkok, Ayuthaya and Pathum Thani would see the level of flood waters drop by 50 centimetres to one metre.

The amount of time for which people's homes would be flooded would be halved, he said.

"The government should not wait till flood waters overflow Rangsit canals, because it will be too late,'' he said.

Dr Thaweewong Sriburi, director of Chulalongkorn University's Research Institute, said the methods being used to tackle the flood problems do not address the problems at the root. He said the country's development had not been planned based on existing studies. The areas housing industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were not suitable for heavy industry because they were low-lying, the academic said.

"Nava Nakhon Industrial Estate, for instance, is blocking the waterway. The government must be strict with land use. The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning must play a bigger role.

The government must consider and put into use research and studies on land use that have already been conducted,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-17

[londonthai]

"They urged the Department of Irrigation to turn the roads into drainage channels. ... The roads should be dug out to about 5 metres, they say, and could be made passable by temporary bridges built over each."

they are bonkers, they are not into irrigation and hydrology, but very remote from it science fields. The nation will, of course, publish anything, fitting views of their sponsors

Edited October 16, 2011 by londonthai

[trogers]

The areas housing industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were not suitable for heavy industry because they were low-lying' date=' the academic said.

[/quote']

Are not these same low-lying areas also housing campuses where these Thai academics work and live?

[pogal]

The reason they probably wouldn't do that is that on the other side of that road is a rich or influential persons house and they would not allow it.

I have just came back from my friends parents house in Lop Buri which gets flooded almost every year now. We noticed this year that the local Mu Ban which houses a lot of rich people was not flooded this year. When I asked why, they told me that the local council had put in new large and expensive pumps for that Mu Ban, paid for by all local communities but only benefiting one. They too felt it was unfair especially since the pumps are pumping water straight back into their areas making flooding even worse. Hard to explain the geography of the place, but if the pumps where put near the main village area everyone could have benefited from them.

Just another unjust event in the LOS, I have heard similar stories in other areas too. It's really so sad and unfair:(

[jombom]

Some good news this morning --- BBC Weather reporting that northern monsoon is now established over Siberia and Northern China ---- expected in Thailand at the end of this week, hopefully. Looks like the dry season might be starting a little early.

[ozzydom]

Some good news this morning --- BBC Weather reporting that northern monsoon is now established over Siberia and Northern China ---- expected in Thailand at the end of this week, hopefully. Looks like the dry season might be starting a little early.

Out with the winter woolies

[givenall]

Let's come back to this in 10 year whe the next flood hits

[tomross46]

The canal system in eastern Pathumtani was developed by the royal family as a way to provide water for thr farmers and drainage of flood waters during the rainy seascon. The contractor that dug the Rangsit canal was not paid in monies but was given land rites for the land for one kilometer on each side of the canal. This created the present Tanuburi districe. The distance between the canals going north and south is approximently 2 kilometers. All land was owned by the government and under the control of the Ministry of Interior.

Large portions of land was set asside to be used for flood controle. One area of Government land the Nong Nue How swamp was one of these areas.

5o years ago the only main road going to the eastern provinces was Sukhumvit road. there were raised bridges approximently ever 2 kilometers crossing a canal going to the Gulf of Thailand. In the last 50 years eastern Bangkok and other provinces have grown rapidly. Villages have ben built with high walls to protect the resideents, Large Induatrial Parks have also been constructed, all have high walls and dykes. Than 10 years ago the new air port was constructed, on the Nong NueHow swanp land filled in and canals were blocked.

Many east roads have also been constructed, and or expanded. Two lane roads are now six lanes. Whole areas east of Rangsit are now large villages, Large shopping centers have been build. During all this work mistankes in engineering design, lack of planning and proper governmental approval. The regulations and laws covering these construction projects exist, but were not inforced.

[hungryhippo]

"They urged the Department of Irrigation to turn the roads into drainage channels. ... The roads should be dug out to about 5 metres, they say, and could be made passable by temporary bridges built over each."

they are bonkers, they are not into irrigation and hydrology, but very remote from it science fields. The nation will, of course, publish anything, fitting views of their sponsors

and what exactly makes you qualified to judge?

Edit: Did you really just say that "the Department of Irrigation" are "not into irrigation"? Wow, just wow.. oh look and a snide remark about the nation too. Crawl back in your hole.

Edited October 17, 2011 by hungryhippo

[ResX]

The reason they probably wouldn't do that is that on the other side of that road is a rich or influential persons house and they would not allow it.

I have just came back from my friends parents house in Lop Buri which gets flooded almost every year now. We noticed this year that the local Mu Ban which houses a lot of rich people was not flooded this year. When I asked why, they told me that the local council had put in new large and expensive pumps for that Mu Ban, paid for by all local communities but only benefiting one. They too felt it was unfair especially since the pumps are pumping water straight back into their areas making flooding even worse. Hard to explain the geography of the place, but if the pumps where put near the main village area everyone could have benefited from them.

Just another unjust event in the LOS, I have heard similar stories in other areas too. It's really so sad and unfair:(

Have you ever come to your mind that possibly Bhmubol dam was doing the same? It received close to 500million m3 of water a few days during the start of the flood. Its water level hasn't change much by now. Where did the water go? How come the dam was not flooded?

Edited October 17, 2011 by ResX