Thailand Live Sunday 20 Nov 2011

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Flood slightly drops in Pathum Thani after opening of sluice gates widened

BANGKOK, Nov 20 – Floodwaters in Pathum Thani, adjacent to the capital of Bangkok have dropped slightly after authorities agreed to widen three sluice gates as requested by Pathum Thani residents during yesterday’s negotiation.

The water level in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district has reportedly fallen about three centimeters to 2.52 metres.

Meanwhile, the authorities are still keeping close watch on water levels in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district, adjacent to Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district, after the widening of three sluice gates - Khlong Phrayasuren, Lammortaek and Khlong Song – as demanded by Pathum Thani residents to drain more water from their neighbourhoods.

So far, there has not yet been any significant impact downstream in Sai Mai and Min Buri districts where the Bangchan Industrial Estate is located.

Water levels in Khlong Song of Bangkok’s Sai Mai district on Sunday remained at 1.98 metres, about 0.50 metres lower than in Lam Luk Ka.

However, water released from the aforementioned sluice gates is likely to cause downstream Khlong Bangbua and Khlong Lat Phrao to recede one week later than earlier expected, said Bangkok Governor. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is monitoring the situation and may increase pumping to drain water out and minimize possible impact.

Results of Saturday’s negotiation between the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) and Pathum Thani residents settled a dispute with Lum Luk Ka and Sai Mai residents over the dismantling of sandbag barriers protecting Sai Mai district by angry Lam Luk Ka residents.

The negotiations came to an agreement that sluice gates at Khlong Phrayasuren would be opened by one metre around the clock and those at Khlong Mortaek and Khlong Song opened to 0.50 metres from 0.20 metres and 1.20 metres from one metre, respectively. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-20

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Phuket transport chief puts brakes on negligence

Phuket transport chief Terayout Prasertphol hopes to prevent accidents like this one on Kata Hill last month. Photo: Dean Noble

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513604-phuket-transport-chief-puts-brakes-on-negligence/page__view__findpost__p__4859706

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RT@veen_NT: Deputy PM Pracha Pronok is to hold a press conference on the 'royal pardon' plan at 2.40pm at FROC. TR @PongpatMgr ~@noppatjak

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Tourism authority reports nationwide flooding drags tourist arrival down by 2%, country loses Bt15 billion of income/MCOT

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RT@tukky_nt: Up to 1700 tons of garbage collected from Bangplad area during Nov 17-19, an amount equivalent to one third of garbage collected from whole BKK in normal situation. TR @pr_bangkok

RT@tukky_nt: Chao Phraya Express boat will resume service fr Nonthaburi-Wat Ratchsingkorn on Nov 21;other routes still halted. Call 0-2623-6001-3 via @ThaiKhuFah

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RT@tukky_nt: Nonthaburi and DonMueang residents today gather(separately)to demand FROC&BMA to speed up draining floodwater from their areas. via @nnanews

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RT@chuvit_online: Thaksin is still our main issue with no compromise and waiting for new crisis between two side, sorry no space in the middle

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1 Billion Baht Budget allocated for salvaging and rehabilitating the submerged Don Muang Airport, damages to be inspected when water recedes/TAN_Network

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BKK governor to Lum Luk Ka residents: more water can be released out of the district as promised when the situation gets better/TAN_Network

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RT@tukky_nt: 4pm:Around 1000 residents in Nonthaburi gather in front of its city hall and block Rattanathibet Rd, calling FROC for speeding up draining floodwater from the area. TR @policespokesman

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RT@Richardbarrow: Miss Belgium 2011 at Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai.http://t.co/GaI44A1t

RT@Richardbarrow: The finalists for Miss Belgium 2012 at Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai.http://t.co/FNns6m8b

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RT@tukky_nt: Ploenchit Fair will be moved to Bangkok Pattana school in Sukhumvit 105 on Nov 26 from 10am-8pm. Get off at Baring BTS station. TR @Apsorn

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About 2-3 months needed to recover Don Mueang Airport after flood recedes: AoT

BANGKOK, Nov 20 – It will take about 2-3 months after flood recedes to restore Don Mueang Airport, mainly used for domestic flights, with an estimated cost of about one billion baht, said Somchai Sawasdeepon, Senior Executive Vice President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT).

The work to restore the airport can start after flood recedes when runways are completely dry.

It is estimated to take about one billion baht to make it usable again. The Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) initially gave 490 million baht and the AoT has allocated an additional budget of about 500-600 million baht n preparation for the recovery, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Somchai, who is also Acting General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said that with flood prevention measures out in place, he is confident Suvarnabhumi Airport--Bangkok's main international air travel hub--will not be flooded.

The AoT has informed tourists about the normal situation at Suvarnabhumi Airport to confirm that they can travel to Thailand as usual, despite flooding at Don Mueang Airport.

In a joint news conference on Sunday with the AoT, the FROC and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), TAT Governor Surapol Sawetserani said that the number of tourists has started to pick up and tourism promotional events will help create confidence among tourists that Thailand is ready to welcome them back.

Among the events is an activity of 20 Miss Belgium finalists, who will attend a preparation camp in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai.

However, he conceded that the current flood will cause Thailand to lose 15 billion baht in tourism income with a two-per cent drop in tourist numbers, or about 300,000 arrivals. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-20

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Nonthaburi Residents Seek BKK Governor's Water Release Clarification

UPDATE : 20 November 2011

300 residents in Nonthaburi province this afternoon barged into a conference room on the fifth floor of Nonthaburi City Hall to seek the authorities' clarification on flood relief plans for the province, particularly demanding Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Boripat to open 6 floodgates linking to Mahasawat canal at one meter high in order to reduce the water level in flooded areas of the province.

Deputy Nonthaburi governor Pradit Sukhontasawat has asked the residents to remain calm, as the provincial administration is currently using 3 water draining boats to release the water into Mahasawat canal, with more such boats expected. Additionally, the province is also using 26 water pumps and has ordered 14 more.

The deputy governor cannot confirm whether Nonthaburi residents can enter their flooded houses by December 1.

Latest reports indicated that the Bangkok governor has refused to comply with Nonthaburi residents' demand, as such move will increase the water mass flowing to Bangkok, thereby making the flood situation more difficult to control. He has instead order more water pumps to be installed and floodgates at Taweewattana canal open to alleviate Nonthaburi's plight.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-20

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Pracha rules out Thaksin's pardon

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok insisted Sunday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would not be benefitted from the draft royal decree to seek royal pardons for inmates.

"Thaksin will not receive benefit from the decree and his name will not be included in the list of convicts eligible for royal pardon," Pracha said.

"Convicts on the run will not be eligible."

Pracha told a press conference that the draft decree of 2012 used the same wordings with the royal decree of 2011, which was enacted during the term of Democrat Party's justice minister Piraphan Saliratwipak.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

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PAD cancels rally

The People's Alliance for Democracy announced Sunday that it has canceled its plan to hold a rally in front of the Office of the Council of State.

The rally was initially planned from 10 am to 6 pm Monday.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

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2day Dr Seri & Darin toured worst affected areas on Thonburi side, inc.15 km stretch of Petchkasem Rd.As usual,drainage problems the culprit/via@terryfrd

Next Dr Seri visited Nakorn Prathom where disaster looming in country's best Som O orchards. 10 more days of 1 metre floods & all is lost./via@terryfrd

Dr Seri agreed with residents that Som O orchards is where big bag barrier is needed. Once in place, water can be drained within 3 days/via@terryfrd

Most of tonight's Thai PBS news was quite positive, including long segments detailing efforts to dry out industrial estates. Great progress./via@terryfrd

Rama 2 on Thonburi side now looks safe as water being pumped out of neighbouring communities. Same 4 Bang Chan & Lat Krabang ind estates/via@terryfrd

Most difficult situation now looks like Nonthaburi where residents want more sacrifices from BKK. Problem is Thonburi side just as bad./via@terryfrd

Golden drainage days over, says Dr Seri, as CP river is on the rise again. Next few days, tides will be quite high./via@terryfrd

Pathum Thani still unlucky since river levels have never gone below river banks, making pumps the only drainage option./via@terryfrd

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Nonthaburi Protesters Disperse, Opening Rattanatibet Road for Traffic

Following 300 Nonthaburi residents' gathering at the city hall this afternoon, November 20, to demand the authorities to open 6 more floodgates at Mahasawat canal in order to reduce the water level in the province and Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Boripat's refusal to comply, Irrigation Department and Nonthaburi provincial officials have agreed to open a number of Mahasawat floodgates at 50 centimeter.

However, the proposal was not approved by the residents who demand the floodgate level at one meter and 3 more gates open. They moved to close Rattanathibet Road in protest.

In the latest development, protesters have agreed to open Rattanatibet road for traffic as Nonthaburi governor Vichien Putwinyoo has promised to discuss with FROC ways to speed up water discharges as requested by the locals.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-20

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