Thai Govt Worried About Locals Destroying Flood Barriers

[robblok]

The government grossly mismanaged this.

They either lied or did not know what was coming (either way its bad).

They gave out false news, they did not act.

I don't blame them for the flooding (maybe a little because they wanted to keep the water for the farmers)

I blame them how they handled it they are a bunch of clowns. Chosen because they had ties to Taksin knot because of their knowledge.

It wasn't the "government" it was the BMA - the government has now taken over.

The situation has always been the same - try and drain the water away from Bkk central.

The problem 9s that it seems that exactly how much water was coming has been repeatedly underestimated.

The BMA in short tried to do a King Canute and with the same result.

Now the "extra" water needs to be dealt with - flooding of industry, homes businesses etc has become unavoidable - it probably never could have been avoided but the delay puts a strain on all the defences and some people who thought mistakenly they were save are not.

Its the BMA that did not let the water in ill grant you that

Other posters were saying how the river takes the main brunt of the water but i saw somewhere (newspaper article scanned in one of the topics )that it half of what the river is taking extra (normal capacity does not count) is taken by the canals. That is a lot more then i thought and shows that they could have done a lot more in the beginning.

But its the government who did not tell the people on time about it (im sure aerial and satellite images showed water coming to bkk) They lied, they hid it and they were incompetent. All the people on the way could have been warned weeks ahead. They did not. They are the one to blame the most.

Clowns selected because they agreed with Mr T not because of their brains.

Other posters were saying how the river takes the main brunt of the water but i saw somewhere (newspaper article scanned in one of the topics )that it half of what the river is taking extra (normal capacity does not count) is taken by the canals. That is a lot more then i thought and shows that they could have done a lot more in the beginning.

[whybother]

It wasn't the "government" it was the BMA - the government has now taken over.

The situation has always been the same - try and drain the water away from Bkk central.

The problem 9s that it seems that exactly how much water was coming has been repeatedly underestimated.

The BMA in short tried to do a King Canute and with the same result.

Now the "extra" water needs to be dealt with - flooding of industry, homes businesses etc has become unavoidable - it probably never could have been avoided but the delay puts a strain on all the defences and some people who thought mistakenly they were save are not.

The government has now taken over and are doing exactly the same as the BMA - protecting Bangkok.

[cowslip]

The government grossly mismanaged this.

They either lied or did not know what was coming (either way its bad).

They gave out false news, they did not act.

I don't blame them for the flooding (maybe a little because they wanted to keep the water for the farmers)

I blame them how they handled it they are a bunch of clowns. Chosen because they had ties to Taksin knot because of their knowledge.

It wasn't the "government" it was the BMA - the government has now taken over.

The situation has always been the same - try and drain the water away from Bkk central.

The problem 9s that it seems that exactly how much water was coming has been repeatedly underestimated.

The BMA in short tried to do a King Canute and with the same result.

Now the "extra" water needs to be dealt with - flooding of industry, homes businesses etc has become unavoidable - it probably never could have been avoided but the delay puts a strain on all the defences and some people who thought mistakenly they were save are not.

Its the BMA that did not let the water in ill grant you that

Other posters were saying how the river takes the main brunt of the water but i saw somewhere (newspaper article scanned in one of the topics )that it half of what the river is taking extra (normal capacity does not count) is taken by the canals. That is a lot more then i thought and shows that they could have done a lot more in the beginning.

But its the government who did not tell the people on time about it (im sure aerial and satellite images showed water coming to bkk) They lied, they hid it and they were incompetent. All the people on the way could have been warned weeks ahead. They did not. They are the one to blame the most.

Clowns selected because they agreed with Mr T not because of their brains.

Other posters were saying how the river takes the main brunt of the water but i saw somewhere (newspaper article scanned in one of the topics )that it half of what the river is taking extra (normal capacity does not count) is taken by the canals. That is a lot more then i thought and shows that they could have done a lot more in the beginning.

you would benefit from being more critical and analytical of the media you read or see.

Bangkok is built on a big delta - there are in fact two rivers - the system splits into two above Bkk.

A heavy monsoon ALWAYS drains out through this delta - long before Bkk was built.

The excess water is now channelled around the city through canals drains dykes etc, but this system overloads almost every year and successive governments have shied away from spending on improvements.....or even doing proper research.

THe current govt is no better or worse than any other - they amount of water is worse.

Bkk is on average only a little more than 1 metre above sea level and due to drainage of the land (e.g. Suvarnabhumi) over the past 50 years the city is actually sinking so flooding when it curs is all the more dramatic.

THere has been ineptitude, but to lay this at the feet of a government is largely politically motivated. The BMA and Bkk are a Democrat area and their men made the decision to play King Canute.

thailand has engineers and those who mange water, floods etc - these people would be the same whatever government is in power and it is largely their advice that is being taken - for better or for worse. It seems that in BKK however the local nabobs tried to save their own businesses or property first - with the help of the Democrat led BMA.

[cowslip]

It wasn't the "government" it was the BMA - the government has now taken over.

The situation has always been the same - try and drain the water away from Bkk central.

The problem 9s that it seems that exactly how much water was coming has been repeatedly underestimated.

The BMA in short tried to do a King Canute and with the same result.

Now the "extra" water needs to be dealt with - flooding of industry, homes businesses etc has become unavoidable - it probably never could have been avoided but the delay puts a strain on all the defences and some people who thought mistakenly they were save are not.

The government has now taken over and are doing exactly the same as the BMA - protecting Bangkok.

No they are not....check out the sluice gates.

[whybother]

The government has now taken over and are doing exactly the same as the BMA - protecting Bangkok.

No they are not....check out the sluice gates.

I walked over Klong Saen Seap today ... normal water level.

The difference with the government taking over control from the BMA is that they also control Samut Prakarn where the klong water is pumped out to sea. Sukhumband didn't have that control so wouldn't flood the canals if it wasn't going to get pumped out.

Edited October 25, 2011 by whybother

[rubl]

begin removed ...

THere has been ineptitude, but to lay this at the feet of a government is largely politically motivated. The BMA and Bkk are a Democrat area and their men made the decision to play King Canute.

thailand has engineers and those who mange water, floods etc - these people would be the same whatever government is in power and it is largely their advice that is being taken - for better or for worse. It seems that in BKK however the local nabobs tried to save their own businesses or property first - with the help of the Democrat led BMA.

In the CNN interview our PM said for foreign public only I guess:

"She said her main concern is the people who are distressed by the flooding, adding that Bangkok will be protected as much as possible because it is an economic hub of Thailand."

[robblok]

you would benefit from being more critical and analytical of the media you read or see.

Bangkok is built on a big delta - there are in fact two rivers - the system splits into two above Bkk.

A heavy monsoon ALWAYS drains out through this delta - long before Bkk was built.

The excess water is now channelled around the city through canals drains dykes etc, but this system overloads almost every year and successive governments have shied away from spending on improvements.....or even doing proper research.

THe current govt is no better or worse than any other - they amount of water is worse.

Bkk is on average only a little more than 1 metre above sea level and due to drainage of the land (e.g. Suvarnabhumi) over the past 50 years the city is actually sinking so flooding when it curs is all the more dramatic.

THere has been ineptitude, but to lay this at the feet of a government is largely politically motivated. The BMA and Bkk are a Democrat area and their men made the decision to play King Canute.

thailand has engineers and those who mange water, floods etc - these people would be the same whatever government is in power and it is largely their advice that is being taken - for better or for worse. It seems that in BKK however the local nabobs tried to save their own businesses or property first - with the help of the Democrat led BMA.

Could you please remove those red glasses your wearing.

The government knew what was coming or should have (aerial/ satellite images / on ground reporting).

They did NOT respond before it was to late, all the news was always its going to be ok we are going to make it. Never did they tell us what was coming that is a big fail.

The fact that the government wanted to keep water for the farmers risking it for us all is also bad but debatable. But my previous point about lying and hiding it all is not.

Then yes the BMA could have opened its gates earlier but that does not excuse the government from all the mistakes and misinformation i have seen.

[cowslip]

as ever on TV I'd get more sense out of a 10 year old than some of the "arguments" or "opinions" posted here.

Most people don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of their nose and have little or no no critical facilities at all.

[robblok]

as ever on TV I'd get more sense out of a 10 year old than some of the "arguments" or "opinions" posted here.

Most people don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of their nose and have little or no no critical facilities at all.

Could you then please explain why they did not tell us water was coming earlier.. or how they could have missed that information ?

How can they not have access to satellite images or aerial images watching the mass of water slowly going to BKK.

They must have known or if they did not are incompetent.

You dont seem to be able to explain this.

[whybother]

as ever on TV I'd get more sense out of a 10 year old than some of the "arguments" or "opinions" posted here.

Most people don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of their nose and have little or no no critical facilities at all.

Don't you hate it when your propaganda gets refuted with logical explanations.

[KarenBravo]

Yes, I thought so, you don't understand the point.

Oh Ye of such few words explain yourself please, I'm dieing to know what the point of said story is - by the way its nice to have a lady on the TV forum to give the female view on the topics as "us men" can get so nasty with each other!!!

Open your eyes and read post #91.

I'm a bloke, not a lady.

[cowslip]

as ever on TV I'd get more sense out of a 10 year old than some of the "arguments" or "opinions" posted here.

Most people don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of their nose and have little or no no critical facilities at all.

Could you then please explain why they did not tell us water was coming earlier.. or how they could have missed that information ?

How can they not have access to satellite images or aerial images watching the mass of water slowly going to BKK.

They must have known or if they did not are incompetent.

You dont seem to be able to explain this.

they did - you weren't listening

[robblok]

as ever on TV I'd get more sense out of a 10 year old than some of the "arguments" or "opinions" posted here.

Most people don't seem to be able to see beyond the end of their nose and have little or no no critical facilities at all.

Could you then please explain why they did not tell us water was coming earlier.. or how they could have missed that information ?

How can they not have access to satellite images or aerial images watching the mass of water slowly going to BKK.

They must have known or if they did not are incompetent.

You dont seem to be able to explain this.

they did - you weren't listening

Your real funny please give some facts. I can give you links about agricultural minister and ying luck denying the problems.

Now you give me the links where they warned us of flooding on this scale.

[cowslip]

The government has now taken over and are doing exactly the same as the BMA - protecting Bangkok.

No they are not....check out the sluice gates.

I walked over Klong Saen Seap today ... normal water level.

The difference with the government taking over control from the BMA is that they also control Samut Prakarn where the klong water is pumped out to sea. Sukhumband didn't have that control so wouldn't flood the canals if it wasn't going to get pumped out.

Oh dear - it's like being in kindergarten - the high tides aren't for another few days.

[whybother]

I walked over Klong Saen Seap today ... normal water level.

The difference with the government taking over control from the BMA is that they also control Samut Prakarn where the klong water is pumped out to sea. Sukhumband didn't have that control so wouldn't flood the canals if it wasn't going to get pumped out.

Oh dear - it's like being in kindergarten - the high tides aren't for another few days.

You don't read much, do you?

Bangkok Gov's Morning Briefing Oct 25, 2011

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra held his morning press conference at the headquarters of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. His main concerns this morning are water levels on the Chao Phraya River which are expected to reach record breaking points again today. The river water level could reach as high as 2.35 to 2.40 meters.

If the sluice gates were fully opened, a lot of Bangkok would be a half a metre under water ... TODAY.

(actually ... a lot of Bangkok is already under half a metre of water. Just not the area protected by the wall and the canal gates.)

Edited October 25, 2011 by whybother

[bumpkin]

What some of the contributers here have overlooked is, that Flood prevention schemes are not initiated the day the rain starts. It is an ongoing project that is started at least 10 years before it would be totally effective.

Few governments from any 'democratic' country are much interested in such long term planning. So many populist politicians believe that Votes are to be had by short term hand-outs. That is their way to re-election.

(Did someone mention free computers for school children)

It takes real political and moral principle to embark on long term projects, which appear to have little or no short term benefit.

The high financial commitment is a great turn-off for politicians.

I hope Thailand's new government are 'big enough' to plan for their countries future, and not only their own.

[kumsamut]

Maybe the neighbors wonder why the other side of the road is not flooding.

[rogerdee123]

I am near Bang bua thong / Bangyai in the same situation as you.

Hi robblok. How high is your water level today?

You probably aren't getting out and about much ... but can you give me your idea as to how bad it is flooded there near Carrefour ?

[cowslip]

What some of the contributers here have overlooked is, that Flood prevention schemes are not initiated the day the rain starts. It is an ongoing project that is started at least 10 years before it would be totally effective.

Few governments from any 'democratic' country are much interested in such long term planning. So many populist politicians believe that Votes are to be had by short term hand-outs. That is their way to re-election.

(Did someone mention free computers for school children)

It takes real political and moral principle to embark on long term projects, which appear to have little or no short term benefit.

The high financial commitment is a great turn-off for politicians.

I hope Thailand's new government are 'big enough' to plan for their countries future, and not only their own.

Good points...BUT....

10 years? - more like 50 or more...........

"Big money" projects are sometimes a turn-on for politicians as they open a different kind of sluice - the ones that let out floods of CASH in the form of graft.......... means of course that the projects are usually half-cocked and ineffective.

Edited October 26, 2011 by cowslip

[cowslip]

CanI just re-iterate that some comments on the flood here show a total lack of understanding of how where when and why floods occur. Some of the comments are inane to the pint of being the most asinine I've ever seen on TV - and that's saying something.. I really think some posters should do a little self-education before making these pronouncements

[rogerdee123]

What some of the contributers here have overlooked is, that Flood prevention schemes are not initiated the day the rain starts. It is an ongoing project that is started at least 10 years before it would be totally effective.

Few governments from any 'democratic' country are much interested in such long term planning. So many populist politicians believe that Votes are to be had by short term hand-outs. That is their way to re-election.

(Did someone mention free computers for school children)

It takes real political and moral principle to embark on long term projects, which appear to have little or no short term benefit.

The high financial commitment is a great turn-off for politicians.

I hope Thailand's new government are 'big enough' to plan for their countries future, and not only their own.

10 years? - more like 50 or more...........

"Big money" projects are sometimes a turn-on for politicians as they open a different kind of sluice - the ones that let out floods of CASH in the form of graft.......... means of course that the projects are usually half-cocked and ineffective.

The polite word for this kind of corruption is appropriately called "leakage" .

[robblok]

CanI just re-iterate that some comments on the flood here show a total lack of understanding of how where when and why floods occur. Some of the comments are inane to the pint of being the most asinine I've ever seen on TV - and that's saying something.. I really think some posters should do a little self-education before making these pronouncements

You never came back to my posts and your proof. You said i was not listening and not seeing the warnings of the government. I came with post proving they were lying and saying everything was going to be all right but you never came back to that. Seems you knew you were loosing.

The government is responsible for much of the damage and misinformation. Just ask the Japanese business owners.

They are mostly not responsible for the flooding, though many in the party are because they have been in power a long time and they did not do a thing. The democrats have been in power shorter but also did not do a thing (but were of course hampered by the red shirts)

I wonder why the irrigation department would not have released water from the dams earlier. Speculation is that it was to help the "red" farmers and so make a killing of the rice scheme.

[robblok]

What some of the contributers here have overlooked is, that Flood prevention schemes are not initiated the day the rain starts. It is an ongoing project that is started at least 10 years before it would be totally effective.

Few governments from any 'democratic' country are much interested in such long term planning. So many populist politicians believe that Votes are to be had by short term hand-outs. That is their way to re-election.

(Did someone mention free computers for school children)

It takes real political and moral principle to embark on long term projects, which appear to have little or no short term benefit.

The high financial commitment is a great turn-off for politicians.

I hope Thailand's new government are 'big enough' to plan for their countries future, and not only their own.

Good points...BUT....

10 years? - more like 50 or more...........

"Big money" projects are sometimes a turn-on for politicians as they open a different kind of sluice - the ones that let out floods of CASH in the form of graft.......... means of course that the projects are usually half-cocked and ineffective.

Yes but nobody wants to touch projects that run over multiple governments because then they can get caught stealing. They want quick fast deals that cant be traced later on.