Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Nov 2011

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Bangkok Governor Reserved on Opening Flood Gates

The Bangkok governor has pointed out that due to the raising of some sluice gates as demanded by protesters in Nonthaburi Province, the floodwater level in the Thonburi area has now increased.

He also says that it may take a long time to drain the floodwater out from the area.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has claimed that after the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminstration was forced to raise some sluice gates as demanded by residents of Nonthaburi Province, the water level in the Thonburi area has risen gradually during the past 24 hours.

At the same time, drainage could only be carried out through canals on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River which could prolong the flood situation in the area.

Sukhumbhand said that he has never promised residents of Nonthaburi Province that he will raise the sluice gates from the current 75 centimeters to one meter.

He added that all provinces already have their own flood management system in place which must be upgraded to address the problems faced by locals.

The Bangkok governor asked for 24 hours to evaluate the flooding situation in the capital before deciding whether to raise the sluice gates as demanded.

As for the overall situation east of the Chao Phraya River, the water level in the Saen Saeb Canal has declined by one to two centimeters, the Prawet Burirom Canal by two to three centimeters, the Ladprao Canal by two to four centimeters, the Prem Prachakorn Canal by two to five centimeters and between three to six centimeters in the Bang Khen Canal.

Meanwhile, most of the major canals on the Thonburi side of the river such as Mahasawat, Bang Cheuk Nang and Tawee Wattana are still seeing an overflow.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Wanted Red-shirt Leader Reports to Bangkok Police

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BMA:dismantling of Big Bag on Vibhavadi Rd will slow drainage of water from Kaset Intersection & cause water in Saimai to increase 1-2cm /TANN

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Nonthaburi woman files suit against FROC with Admin Court calling for end to salvage of Highway 340 and dismantling of Big Bag levee /TANN

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PM Discusses King's 84th Birthday Celebration

The prime minister presides over a meeting to discuss the hosting of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday celebration.

She has asked that the event be hosted grandly but in keeping with the flood crisis the central region is still facing.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over the meeting to discuss the celebration of His Majesty the King's seventh cycle birthday which is coming up on December 5.

The event itself will start on December 3 at the Santi Maitree Building at Government House and will run for seven days and seven nights until December 9.

Yingluck told officials to proceed with the plans they have for the event and reminded them that it must be held as grand as possible but they must take into consideration the flood woes that still linger in some areas in the central region.

She added that this celebration is what Thais look forward to every year and helps unite the people as they pay respect to their beloved Monarch.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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BMA agrees to open three Khlong Mahasawat sluice gates to 1 metre high as demanded by Nonthaburi residents /MCOT

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AFP: Thaksin says he has no plans to return home

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AFP: Historic Floods Disrupt Thai Education

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Dismantling 'Big Bag' barrier has no impact on inner Bangkok

BANGKOK, Nov 23 -- Dismantling the giant sandbag 'big bag' barrier at Don Meaung's Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection on Phahonyothin Road has not yet impacted inner Bangkok, according to Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) Director Pracha Promnog.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open three sluice gates at Khlong Mahasawat to one metre as demanded by Nonthaburi residents, Mr Pracha said, as the impact could be manageable.

Mr Pracha, who is also justice minister, said the pulling down of the flood barrier was not unexpected as residents on both sides of the temporary wall were both affected by the dyke. Initial evaluation however found that there was no impact from dismantling the wall at the moment.

He said the water flowing through the gap is moving along Phahonyothin Road but has had no immediate effect on inner Bangkok.

Mr Pracha said he expected more protests could happen as flood victims were much stress.

Apart from informing the flood victims to better understand the situation, he said, FROC and other agencies concerned must speed up draining water into the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin rivers as much as possible before the next high tide on Nov 25.

Some 400 residents in housing estates in the Phahonyothin, Sai Mai and Don Mueang areas hard hit by the continued deep floodwater because of the big bag barrier jointly dismantled the makeshift dyke made of 1-2 tonnes of sand bags at Don Meaung's Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection.

They started their mission at noon without waiting for the officials from FROC to negotiate. It took three hours for them to remove the barrier that lay across the road both inbound and outbound.

The residents said they would be on guard and not let the authorities to rebuild the barrier so that water would be drained out of their residential area as fast as possible.

Some residents argued that they decided to dismantle the wall after FROC broke its promise to widen the gap despite it being clearly seen that there was no major impact on inner Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the BMA has agreed to open three sluice gates at Khlong Thawi Watthana from the existing opening of 75 cm to 1 metre so as to rapidly drain the flood via Khlong Mahasawat to alleviate the hardship of Nonthaburi residents.

The three sluice gates are at Khlong Khun Sri Burirak, Khlong Kwai and Khlong Soi.

He said that BMA has monitored the water situation after the sluice gates were opened from 50 cm to 75 cm on Tuesday and found that while after more than 30 hours the water level has surged in Bangkok, it could be managed so the city decided to open the gates to one metre.

The governor said he was glad that BMA could respond the demand of Nonthaburi residents and he would ask FROC to instruct the Royal Irrigation Department to open two more sluice gates at Chim Plee and Nakhon Chaisi to drain more water in Khlong Maha Sawat

However, he said BMA reserves the right to adjust the sluice gates if the water affects the Bangkok residents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-23

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RT@ASEAN_NEWSROOM: Torrential rain in Trang province cause flooding to spread, villages under over 1m of water & schools forced to close for 2nd day

RT@ASEAN_NEWSROOM: An ex-House Speaker threatens to lead Don Muang, Rangsit residents to close down Rd, Tollway if govt doesn't help alleviate their flood probs

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RT@terryfrd: Dr Seri tells ppl below big bag barrier which was torn about by residents today, not to worry. Expect water levels to rise only 2cm.

RT@terryfrd:Dr Seri & Darin went to housing estate from where those who destroyed the barrier came from. Situation awful.

RT@terryfrd:Residents hadn't been warned of the impending flood and most lost just about everything, thus their anger quite understandable.

RT@terryfrd:Dr Seri was at Irrigation dept today 4 meeting w. rep frm US Army Corp of Engineers. Will work on sophisticated flood modelling system

RT@terryfrd:It looks like residents in northern BKK & Pathum Thani have 3 more wks of misery, Dr Seri says, unless a lot more pumping is done.

RT@terryfrd:Lot of pressure from residents, including rector of Rangsit Univ, to get a move on in the northern metro, so a more serious effort likely.

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Thailand Live Thursday 24 Nov 2011

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