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Nonthaburi Residents Up In Arms: Thailand Flood


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Posted

Nonthaburi residents up in arms

SURASIT SINPRASERT,

PANOR CHOMPOOSRI

THE NATION

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Nearly 1,000 Nonthaburi residents, gathering at city hall to hear the provincial governor's response to their demands, yesterday threatened to destroy floodwalls and prolong their protest if their demand for sluice gates to be opened to a width of one metre were not met.

Meanwhile, residents of western Pathum Thani province slammed the government for its failure in water management, called for flood water to be drained out of their homes and demanded remedial measures for victims.

After Nonthaburi Governor Wichien Phutthiwinyu's announcement that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would open the sluice gates connecting to Nonthaburi to no more than 70cm was greeted by jeers, national Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) spokesman Pol General

Pongsapat Pongcharoen told residents that the BMA would open the Thavee Wattana/ Mahasawat gate to one metre by midnight yesterday. However, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra later dismissed Pongsapat's claim at a press conference, saying there was no such agreement with the FROC.

He said the BMA had only agreed to open the Thavee Wattana sluice gate to a width of 50cm, as he had announced previously. "It's impossible for the BMA to open it one-metre wide because it would cause overflows and flood Bangkok homes," he insisted.

The Nonthaburi residents had rallied outside city hall, and after waiting since 11am, threatened to destroy flood walls, such as those along Mahasawat Canal and Highway No 304's "big bag" embankment, if their demands were not met.

They had submitted a four-point demand on Sunday: that the BMA allow the sluice gates connecting to Nonthaburi (such as Bang Phlad, Bang Bumrhu and Mahasawat canals) to open at least one-metre wide in order to drain the province's polluted flood water; that Nonthaburi authorities get rid of garbage and weed blocking all waterways in the province; that provincial officials and the FROC declare Nonthaburi a special flood-disaster zone so that affected families are compensated for actual damage, besides receiving the initial Bt5,000 flood-assistance money; and that the authorities install water pumps in order to lower the water level visibly until residents are able to return home without having to use boats.

A deadline of December 1 was given for the last of these demands.

Wichien in the afternoon held discussions with the demonstrators' representatives and officials at a city hall conference room in a bid to find a solution. However, no conclusions were reached after an hour, as representatives reportedly added demands and argued among themselves.

At 1pm, he announced by megaphone to some 800 demonstrators that the BMA had agreed to open the sluice gates to a width of 70cm, from the previous 50cm, causing the demonstrators to jeer at the decision. The governor then said he would consult with the BMA further.

Pongsapat, who arrived later and discussed the situation with Wichien, then announced that the BMA had agreed to open the Thavee Wattana/Mahasawat sluice gate to one metre at midnight.

As regards the protesters' second demand, the Nonthaburi governor said he would have the Bang Bua Thong Canal dredged today, followed by Phra Phimol and then other canals, while also fixing damaged floodwalls.

He promised to get 200 water pumps from the Royal Irrigation Department and have them installed today to drain flood water out, hence the water level would be significantly lowered by December 1.

For the special-disaster-zone demand, Wichien said he had tabled the matter at a meeting on Monday with the FROC, which had promised to consider it in combination with similar demands concerning other flood-affected provinces.

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-- The Nation 2011-11-23

Posted (edited)
As regards the protesters' second demand, the Nonthaburi governor said he would have the Bang Bua Thong Canal dredged today, followed by Phra Phimol and then other canals, while also fixing damaged floodwalls.

He promised to get 200 water pumps from the Royal Irrigation Department and have them installed today to drain flood water out, hence the water level would be significantly lowered by December 1.

He will start doing something ONLY TODAY?? Hey, those poor Thai ppl are soaked for more than A MONTH - and he just woke up!!!??

I will be very glad to see this govt sued over and over and over, for many months/years after the water recedes. The idiots must pay for their idiocity and their lack of actions, decideness and common sense.

PS: Im also soaked for more than a month. And the water is still here. And I also use boats. And as a property's owner, I will sue this govt too - right after the road get dry enough to be able to come to my lawyer. :annoyed:

Edited by alexakap
Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

But they prayed and gave offerings to the deities of the waters. They laid down in empty coffins to summon the help and advice of dead ancestors. As it has been done for eons in this country in the face of emergencies or elections. Add amulets to that and you have assured protection.

It's not only the government. It's that TIT สมน้ำหน้า! sohm naam naa

Posted (edited)

I do not blame these people at all. They should have already demanded the gates be opened. These people deserve all they can get from the government. For years, each government has had flood problems and no one did anything. Now, the big one came that the government was warned about and still did nothing. It's now time to pay the piper. TIT, but it's up to the people if they want change that they deserve. The whole world is laughing at Thailand and rightly so with the politics and problems as they are

Edited by ralphlsasser
Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

+2 It is absolutely scandalous. Actually Thailand is now (according to the world bank?) classed as an Newly Industrialised Nation? :huh:

jb1

Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

+2 It is absolutely scandalous. Actually Thailand is now (according to the world bank?) classed as an Newly Industrialised Nation? :huh:

jb1

It wasn't, but should have been noted in the OP that the BMA does not control it's floodgates. The national government does, and has for some weeks now.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/514233-thailand-live-wednesday-23-nov-2011/page__view__findpost__p__4866054

Posted (edited)

My son and dog were evacuated by boat from our townhouse in Kanmanee Villa on the banguray Sai Noi road on 19 October when the water reached the electrical outlets downstairs, 1.2 meters. I'm told that it's receded some to about 80 cm and they say they are turning the electric back on????? Watch for the rise in deaths!. It's now 23 November and they're saying it will be the end of December before the water is gone. Let's see does that qualify me for 30000 baht, 20000 baht or just 5000 baht? Oh wait, I'm a farang, I'll probably be expected to pay them for letting me use their water for my indoor swimming pool!

Edited by Scott
formatting
Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

But they prayed and gave offerings to the deities of the waters. They laid down in empty coffins to summon the help and advice of dead ancestors. As it has been done for eons in this country in the face of emergencies or elections. Add amulets to that and you have assured protection.

It's not only the government. It's that TIT สมน้ำหน้า! sohm naam naa

Som naam naa to people who were just going about their business and then in the space of 3-4 days got their houses flooded, and then subsequently lived in polluted cesspits for a month while watching the plight of people 30 kms away completely dry and unaffected? and you say "serves you right"?

Come and say som naam naa to my neighbours and relatives you smart arse!

Posted (edited)

*Deleted quote edited out*

It shouldn't matter where Nothaburi is. It was flooded because the government failed to do anything despite multiple warnings for years. They've stuck their head in the sand on corruption and didn't take the warnings from people that actually know something, so now they should pay for their bad deeds.

Edited by Scott
reply to deleted quote edited out
Posted

Dredging the canals TODAY - nicely proactive - and 200 pumps installed today. Gosh, he's got a big day ahead of him!

Thanks to my fellow Nonthaburians for their efforts to remove our foul liquid visitor from our doorsteps. What a pathetic government we have...

+1

Agree 100%. Even in an undeveloped country, the lack of action, advice and direction by those in charge is astonishing.

Anyone want to buy my house???

But they prayed and gave offerings to the deities of the waters. They laid down in empty coffins to summon the help and advice of dead ancestors. As it has been done for eons in this country in the face of emergencies or elections. Add amulets to that and you have assured protection.

It's not only the government. It's that TIT สมน้ำหน้า! sohm naam naa

Som naam naa to people who were just going about their business and then in the space of 3-4 days got their houses flooded, and then subsequently lived in polluted cesspits for a month while watching the plight of people 30 kms away completely dry and unaffected? and you say "serves you right"?

Come and say som naam naa to my neighbours and relatives you smart arse!

None of the Bangkok elite got flooded I'm quite sure.

Posted

Residents in western bangkok like myself are flooded. We just reclaimed our first floor from the water (3 weeks), still have 30 cm in the streets and no easy way to move around.

I totally sympathize with the Nonthaburi residents but I will admit I do not want them to open the gates more and re-flood our house we just cleaned.

Very difficult situation.

Posted

Residents in western bangkok like myself are flooded. We just reclaimed our first floor from the water (3 weeks), still have 30 cm in the streets and no easy way to move around.

I totally sympathize with the Nonthaburi residents but I will admit I do not want them to open the gates more and re-flood our house we just cleaned.

Very difficult situation.

You sympathize with them, and at the same time, selfish by not wanting to re-share the pain.

I understand you, as I also feel the same as you, and there are many like the two of us here in bangkok proper.

Posted

Residents in western bangkok like myself are flooded. We just reclaimed our first floor from the water (3 weeks), still have 30 cm in the streets and no easy way to move around.

I totally sympathize with the Nonthaburi residents but I will admit I do not want them to open the gates more and re-flood our house we just cleaned.

Very difficult situation.

You sympathize with them, and at the same time, selfish by not wanting to re-share the pain.

I understand you, as I also feel the same as you, and there are many like the two of us here in bangkok proper.

Are you not the person who, last week was shouting about how you were ok in your Sukhumvit Condo? :D

jb1

Posted

There's still more than a foot of water on our soi after 5 weeks since the village was first flooded. I don't want to heap misery and financial suffering on anyone else. I don't even want 5,000 baht. All I want is for Yingluck and her cronies to come to our house apologise in person. I will then give her the bleach, a brush, a bucket of 'clean' water if it can be found, a pair of wellies, and maybe some rubber gloves to scrub the place clean. I will gladly pay her 300 baht a day while I sit and watch her do it.

Posted

Residents in western bangkok like myself are flooded. We just reclaimed our first floor from the water (3 weeks), still have 30 cm in the streets and no easy way to move around.

I totally sympathize with the Nonthaburi residents but I will admit I do not want them to open the gates more and re-flood our house we just cleaned.

Very difficult situation.

I understand you all to well, we are now in the same situation. I am in a part of Nonthaburi that is a bit higher. We had 70cm now 20-30 in the streets and a dry house. But all around us the water is more then a meter. So yes i understand them to take water through West Bangkok. I checked the canal its going directly to the river. so it is the fastest and best way to drain water. If they don't do it like this it will flood others downstream for a much longer path.

Posted

My moobaan is in Khet TalingChan of Bangkok due south of Nonthaburi and as of today the water level on the moobaan roads ranges from 55 to 80cm as measured with a boat paddle. Water still too high for regular vehicles and the water is dropping very slowly....about 4cm per day with pumps going....unforutunately the water level in the canals is so high what is pumped out/into the canal finds its way back into the moobaan . This makes Day 22 of my evacuation....I evacuated when the water reached approx 80cm....it ultimately reached around 1.3 meters in my moobaan around 2 weeks ago. So, possibly more water coming my way from Nonthaburi is not a welcomed event if it occurs.

Posted

My son and dog were evacuated by boat from our townhouse in Kanmanee Villa on the banguray Sai Noi road on 19 October when the water reached the electrical outlets downstairs, 1.2 meters. I'm told that it's receded some to about 80 cm and they say they are turning the electric back on????? Watch for the rise in deaths!. It's now 23 November and they're saying it will be the end of December before the water is gone. Let's see does that qualify me for 30000 baht, 20000 baht or just 5000 baht? Oh wait, I'm a farang, I'll probably be expected to pay them for letting me use their water for my indoor swimming pool!

I hope for your sake that 'being a farang' has absolutely nothing to do with your household's rightful entitlement to compensation.

I assume that the house is in the name of your wife, a Thai? If so, the tabien baan will be sufficient. No need for the government to know an alien resides in the house.

My sympathies with your predicament. We have been lucky out on Klong 7 Thanyaburi, north of 305. No flooding on east bank.

Good luck, I hope you all get the maximum you can.

Posted

My moobaan is in Khet TalingChan of Bangkok due south of Nonthaburi and as of today the water level on the moobaan roads ranges from 55 to 80cm as measured with a boat paddle. Water still too high for regular vehicles and the water is dropping very slowly....about 4cm per day with pumps going....unforutunately the water level in the canals is so high what is pumped out/into the canal finds its way back into the moobaan . This makes Day 22 of my evacuation....I evacuated when the water reached approx 80cm....it ultimately reached around 1.3 meters in my moobaan around 2 weeks ago. So, possibly more water coming my way from Nonthaburi is not a welcomed event if it occurs.

If its already flooding then there is no need for you to flood more (unless its drained straight in the river). I saw the canal it went from west to east in the river. It would help a lot of people up and downstream if water from Nothaburi could be drained to the river instead of its overland journey south. But if the canals dont guide it anymore i don't see the point.

Posted (edited)

There's still more than a foot of water on our soi after 5 weeks since the village was first flooded. I don't want to heap misery and financial suffering on anyone else. I don't even want 5,000 baht. All I want is for Yingluck and her cronies to come to our house apologise in person. I will then give her the bleach, a brush, a bucket of 'clean' water if it can be found, a pair of wellies, and maybe some rubber gloves to scrub the place clean. I will gladly pay her 300 baht a day while I sit and watch her do it.

Count on me too. I'll also stay and watch if one of those bastards in charge just come and help me clean the shit outta my house. 300 thb/day, yeah....Im on it.

Can we pick the persons? I want that one from FROC, who was constantly saying that the water will NOT come to our area. He was even kept saying the same EVEN the water already came for .5m..I want him here, brushes+soaps are waiting... :annoyed:

PS: ohh, no. Not now. End of Dec, maybe....as the water is still here.

I'll arrange him a VERY special New Year eve....:jap:

Edited by alexakap
Posted

The government's portrayal of the flooding levels is generally try to put a happy face on everything in terms of the water level is dropping in many places, dry by New Years, road so & so reopened, etc. I just know in my part of western Bangkok there are no happy faces. So, if you live in a part of Bangkok that has not flooded or only got knee-deep water or less water consider yourself lucky. Flooding sucks.

Posted

I do not blame these people at all. They should have already demanded the gates be opened. These people deserve all they can get from the government. For years, each government has had flood problems and no one did anything. Now, the big one came that the government was warned about and still did nothing. It's now time to pay the piper. TIT, but it's up to the people if they want change that they deserve. The whole world is laughing at Thailand and rightly so with the politics and problems as they are

its amazing compartmentalising. Half the announcements declare with pride that inner Bangkok has escaped flooding. What disinformation. Inner Bangkok hasnt escaped flooding in the nicest interpretation of the word. It has survived by browbeating the communities outside the barriers. It has survived by condemning others to immersion. Finally it has survived by empty promises to other people. The headline should be

Inner Bangkok survives through deceit and self concern.

Posted

the government really shxt in front of the international media, and lie to the world 'water is gone' :-( I get emails from outside Thailand and my friends read good news about Bangkok is dry ? ? ?

my goodness, what is in my house now ?

Posted

The government's portrayal of the flooding levels is generally try to put a happy face on everything in terms of the water level is dropping in many places, dry by New Years, road so & so reopened, etc. I just know in my part of western Bangkok there are no happy faces. So, if you live in a part of Bangkok that has not flooded or only got knee-deep water or less water consider yourself lucky. Flooding sucks.

Yes that is what they are doing and acting like its all over while for many it still is not. Protection of inner Bangkok though important has made it harder for others. They will have to endure more.

I really hope we will all see some big improvements. Here stuff is definitely going better and i think the village might be dry in a week or less. But outside this area people will still be in 1meter or more of water. I am just lucky to be on a part that is a bit higher and near an important road so they are draining water fast.

They really should try to drain stuff to the river instead of it going down south overland all the time. That goes so slow and does so much damage. (does not mean you have to stop it from going south because that will only hurt the ones up stream more)

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