Don Muang Airport To Take 60 Days Before Reopening

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Don Mueang Airport to take 60 days before reopening

BANGKOK, Nov 14 -- The construction of 'Big Bags' at Don Mueang Airport was expected to be completed on November 15 before drainage of floodwater would begin drying out the airport, as repair work would take around 60 days before the airport could reopen, according to Airports of Thailand (AoT) chairman ACM Sumet Photimanee.

ACM Sumet said a mission was underway to partially reopen the airport by using 'Big Bags' to build a floodwater barrier at the runway and taxiway on the east side of the airport.

It was expected that the operations using 1-2 tonne sandbags piled up as a makeshift flood prevention dyke would completed on November 15 and then water pumps would be used to drain the water from the airport.

After the water receded, he said, restoration work would begin and it was expected to take around 60 days to reopen the airport.

Flight operations at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport have been halted since October 25 after the runways were flooded.

AoT Senior Executive Vice President Somchai Sawasdeepon has given assurances that Suvarnabhumi Airport would be spared from flooding as it was designed with engineering principle to prevent floods up to 3.50 metres high with a 23.5 km long flood prevention barrier around the airport with 70 metre deep basement.

Meanwhile, the airport has a high performance water-pump system which could pump one million cubic metres of water per day, he said.

The airport also has a water retaintion area with 4 million cubic metre capacity, he said, adding that there was one million cubic metre of water in the retention area and three million cubic metres still available. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-14

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Big bags to stay, for now

The Nation

FROC says removing barrier won't help Don Muang residents

The Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) yesterday asked angry Don Muang residents to put up with the big-bag floodwall in their neighbourhood for seven more days.

"Removing a section of the structure or the whole structure now is not going to benefit people on ether side of the floodwall," Anond Snidvong said yesterday. He sits on the FROC water-management panel.

The 15-km-long floodwall, a portion of which went up in Bangkok's Don Muang district a week ago, has played a crucial role in preventing flood water from rushing into the capital's inner zone. Flood-water levels are now clearly subsiding in many parts of Bangkok.

However, with the level of the flood water in the areas north of the floodwall about 70 centimetres higher than in areas below it, many Don Muang residents gathered to pressure the FROC to do something about the structure.

"We will not allow the dismantling of this floodwall. We are keeping a close watch on the structure," FROC director Pol General Pracha Promnok said yesterday.

Anond said removing this crucial floodwall would not ease flooding in Don Muang district, as additional run-off water from the upper part of the country would simply enter the district and replace it.

"Please wait for seven more days. After that, we will be able to drain flood water out of their area via the Premprachakorn Canal. We have to wait till the water level in the canal gets low enough," he said.

Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul, who represents Don Muang district, reportedly promised local residents that a section of the floodwall would be dismantled. Yesterday afternoon, many people were seen removing small sandbags on top of the big-bag structure.

A gap of six metres in the floodwall has been opened to allow the delivery of relief supplies to flood victims in areas north of the structure.

"But if you cause more gaps in the wall, Silom Road is at risk of submerging," Anond said.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon said his team had told Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in writing that the authorities must not bow to pressure from protesters and agree to remove the big-bag floodwall.

"The removal [of the wall] would hurt the country as a whole. The cost of economic and social damage and disruption to education may be to the tune of trillions of baht," he said.

Thirachon urged that more information and extra remedial measures be provided to people affected by the floodwall. "For example, authorities must ensure that the flow of relief supplies is adequate and not interrupted," he said.

Yingluck said FROC had already talked to Don Muang residents and promised to drain floodwater from their areas as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, many Nonthaburi residents vented their anger at the government, FROC and senior Nonthaburi officials on a Facebook page "Nam Kheun Hai Reeb Bok" (Issue Quick Alerts when Floodwater Rises). They discussed submitting a petition to the Nonthaburi governor, demanding an explanation of how the authorities will deal with the flooding, which has dragged on in their hometowns for over a month now.

Many believed the authorities' attempt to re-open flooded Highway 340 will aggravate flooding in their areas.

Transport Minister ACM Sukam-pol Suwannathat acknowledged that some locals were unhappy. "Please understand that there's not much water on the road surface," he said.

Floodwater is being drained from Highway 340 as authorities need to prepare an alternative route for motorists heading to the country's South should the main route, Rama II, become impassable.

At press time, Rama II Road remained open to traffic. Run-off water from the upper part of the country has approached the road but was apparently flowing into canals and low-lying nearby communities.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday ordered the evacuations of many communities in Bangkok's seaside Bang Khun Thian district. "Flooding won't last long in their communities. Run-off water will quickly flow into the sea," he said.

According to Royal Irrigation Department chief Chalit Damrong-sak, the flooding situation in Bangkok's western zone will significantly improve after November 16.

"By then, the water level in the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin rivers will be low enough for the water to be drained," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

[marquess]

Dr Anond's statements seem to be at variance with those of Dr Seri who said that there was little danger of inner Bangkok flooding even if the bag was removed. So far Seri seems to know alot more about water management than any of those in the government. It seems that the likes of Anond just want the people of Don Muang to suffer without having any credible knowledge as to why that should be. If you want to people to suffer for long compensate them, otherwise your words mean nothing!

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Big Bag situation: PM hasn't order the dissembling of barrier. Locals already dismantled it, then FROC ordered BMA to fix it. /via@Tulip_Oum

Big Bag situation: head of DonMueng community told @news1005fm yesterday that Karun Hosakul, PT MP told them FROC is ok w/ it. /via@Tulip_Oum

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Bkk gov concerned abt safety of big bags, asks police to help ensure public don't destroy, could face 3mnths jail/6k fine. /TANN

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PM affirms via her FB, no order to dismantle big bags. Provincial govs ordered to assist affected locals. /TANN

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Bangkok Governor Displeased with FROC's Management on Don Muang Big Bags

The Bangkok governor is displeased with the Flood Relief Operation Center, or FROC, for sending a document about dealing with Don Muang residents who removed the "big bag" sand bags that were erected as a barrier across Vibhavadi Rangsit Road near Don Muang airport.

He said that FROC should have informed him earlier.

Bangkok Governor Mom Ratchawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra is not satisfied with the FROC for sending the document at around 10 P.M. yesterday, signed by Police General Pracha Promnok ordering the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA, to prohibit Don Muang residents from removing more of the big sand bags from the floodwall on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Sukhumbhand said the FROC should have verbally informed him earlier instead of sending him instructions at night since this is a serious and important issue, and requires some discussion between the executives.

However, the BMA sent instructions to the Metropolitan Police Headquarters to organize a team of local police to protect the BMA officials who are coming to repair the collapsed floodwall today, saying that he will go later to assess the damages.

Those who attempt to interfere with the BMA officials will face up to three months in prison or 6,000 baht in fines, or both, according to the laws pertaining to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

[whybother]

A police general ORDERS the BMA to "prohibit people from removing more sand bags".

Wouldn't that be the job of the police?

[sparebox2]

Dr Anond's statements seem to be at variance with those of Dr Seri who said that there was little danger of inner Bangkok flooding even if the bag was removed. So far Seri seems to know alot more about water management than any of those in the government. It seems that the likes of Anond just want the people of Don Muang to suffer without having any credible knowledge as to why that should be. If you want to people to suffer for long compensate them, otherwise your words mean nothing!

Why compensate them more, if the BBB is not effective? i.e.no difference in water level with or without BBB.