Political Rivalry Between BMA, Thai Govt Blamed For Flood Info Confusion

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Conflicting flood info frustrates private sector

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

Political rivalry between BMA, govt blamed for confusion

The private sector has complained that it is confused by inconsistent information from the central government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), saying the political conflict between the two and poor management are making the flood problem worse.

BMA officials led by Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday met with a number of business representatives as well as the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). The meeting was meant to explain the BMA's measures to drain flood waters from the city and listen to |the private sector's reaction to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's warning to Bangkokians to evacuate.

Sukhumbhand said the BMA had a good drainage system, which could release flood waters at the rate of 130 million cubic metres per day or 1,600 cubic metres per second. If there is no major problem such as the collapse of flood barriers, the BMA should be able to expel the water into the Gulf of Thailand, with little impact to inner Bangkok.

However, he admitted that the BMA did not have any special measures to protect the central business district, insisting that the drainage system was sufficient to mitigate the flood impact.

He said it was difficult to predict where the floods would hit next. Although the central government has said all areas of Bangkok will be flooded, the BMA thinks differently, believing that some districts will be safe.

Sukhumbhand said the BMA could manage the floodways, canals and the drainage system within Bangkok itself, but management of the situation outside the city was the responsibility of the central government and state agencies such as the Royal Irrigation Department.

Pornsilp Patcharintanakul, vice chairman of the TCC, said that after he listened to the BMA's position, he realised that the conflict between the central government and the metropolitan administration still existed. The information from both parties conflicts and so is untrustworthy. Thus businesses have to assess the information by themselves.

"For example, the government said the flood waters would hit all 50 districts of Bangkok, but the Bangkok governor does not think so. This different evaluation confuses people, so they don't know whether they should evacuate or not," he said.

He said the business sector had prepared itself to deal with the floods. Companies have constructed floodwalls.

The role of the government and the BMA is to have a concrete plan to release the flood waters after they hit inner Bangkok.

"If the government and the BMA didn't have a political conflict, flood-water management would be done better. The longer the floods persist in Bangkok, the more loss to |the country's economy," Pornsilp said.

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (Oct 28) will meet today to discuss the relief measures.

Chai Srivikorn, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), said the government and the BMA did not have concrete plans to drain the water. He said he did not understand why some effective floodways that are normally used to release water from Bangkok are not being used at this time, and why the government and the BMA could not evaluate the flood levels and when the water will hit inner Bangkok.

He said the government was not outlining the real situation, or offering any back-up plan, so neither the private sector nor individuals could plan in advance whether they should evacuate or what other measures to take.

12-HOUR WARNING

Meanwhile, the 12-hour flood warning planned by the BMA seems not to be enough to allow hotel operators to get their guests to safety, Chai said.

The RSTA represents the five-star hotels and luxury shopping malls in the Ratchaprasong area such as Gaysorn Plaza and CentralWorld and the InterContinental, Grand Hyatt Erawan and Four Seasons hotels. This business area last year was seriously affected by the political violence as red-shirt protesters occupied it in April and May, paralysing its tourism businesses. Chai said the businesses in Ratchaprasong lost about Bt5 billion last year because of the political turmoil.

Now hit by another crisis, the business members of the RSTA insist that they will not lay off workers. They have their own measures to prevent the floods hitting their buildings. At Gaysorn Plaza for example, if the flood level reaches 50 centimetres, the management team will evaluate whether to close the mall, Chai said.

Chatrchai Tuongratnaphan, executive consultant for the Thai Retailers Association, said there were still shortages of instant noodles, drinking water, canned fish, and eggs. The supplies imported from neighbouring countries will enter the Thai market by the middle of next week.

He said the government should say exactly which districts of Bangkok will be submerged so that retailers can plan transport.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

[jaiyen17]

I continue to be in total flux and confused by all these government reports.... they are making this very, very difficult and increasing all of our stress levels. For a week I've been in "should I stay or should I go mode" For now trusting my own intuition and staying home with my stock of dried goods, drinking water and antique urns filled with water filled before the Prapa canal was compromised. I'm frightened by the food & water supply chain problems and don't think it's going to be any safer to head to an island. All this Thai government bullshit makes me want to only trust the Japanese experts reports from last night... very frustrating!!!

[givenall]

I really don’t care who is to blame, stop making the wholeThailand to a swimming pools.

Not mentioning that the places that the government and theirfriends have interest staying pretty dry

[TAWP]

11.10 PM Yingluck calls for the unity, no colors/parties in this flood situation ( TR @nnanews @suthichai ) #thaifloodeng

Yes, let's all stop putting signs and names on donation-packages not personally paid by those stealing the credits.

And let's NOT have any rescue-boats out proclaiming 'white people only' 'Red Shirt only'.

Edited October 28, 2011 by TAWP

[anterian]

Most of my food parcels have no names other than brand names, these are standard shop products. There are also some obvious special emergency packs these are labelled CP.

[hammered]

Actually for those that remember the 90s etc central BKK has been a lot better protected this time around. In the past you could wade through waisdt deep water in Siam Square, parts of Sukhumvit and most of Ramkamhaeng and even Samsen area would have been deeper (and it could last in certain places up top 3 months in Samsen). This time the suburbs of Bangkok and rest of the country have taken it far far harder but central BKK has to date got off pretty lightly. That could change or maybe not. We will see.