Plodprasop Warns Bangkok Metropolitan Administration: Flood Prevention

[webfact]

Follow orders or face action, BMA warned

The Nation

Plodprasop says dredging of canals, ditches behind schedule in capital

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will face legal penalties if it fails to respond to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's flood prevention instructions.

"Article 31 of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act requires all agencies to take orders from the prime minister," Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said yesterday. He chairs the Water and Flood Management Committee.

The Democrat Party controls the BMA while Yingluck is PM in the Pheu Thai Party.

Plodprasop has accused the BMA of failing to complete the dredging of small canals and ditches in Bangkok before the end of June.

"The dredging was initially scheduled for completion by June 30," Plodprasop said. He was speaking after attending a meeting to follow up on the flood prevention measures.

He said the meeting, chaired by Yingluck, assigned him to follow up on progress with the BMA.

"We will report progress on flood prevention efforts to the public every now and then so the public will know what is going on," he said.

Plodprasop said he was confident so far that the government would be able to protect key areas such as Bangkok and six industrial estates from flooding this year.

"The rainfall will be less than last year," he said. He added the authorities had completed many flood prevention projects, including the construction of 2,000 upstream dams and the preparation of 2.1 million rai of land as water retention zones.

"We will be raising the height of the earthern embankment along the Chao Phraya River, too," Plodprasop said.

He said agencies would link their early warning systems and tackle areas with water drainage problems.

Plodprasop said Yingluck would be working at the Water and Flood Management Committee office every Thursday from next week onwards. She would also spend some weekends following up on progress of flood prevention projects.

The Meteorological Department issued a warning about heavy downpours and possible flash floods in 21 provinces yesterday. Among the risky provinces were Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Phuket, Krabi, Ranong and Phang Nga.

Meanwhile, villagers in Angthong have had to dismantle six of their houses because soil on the banks of the Chao Phraya River crumbled.

Plodprasop disclosed that since the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) had scrapped its climate research project in Thailand, the German Aerospace Centre had expressed an interest in conducting similar research here.

Nasa decided to scrap its project last year in the wake of opposition or caution from groups, including the Democrat Party, and the Thai government decided to consult Parliament before it approved Nasa's use of its Utapao Airport.

"Nasa cancelled the SEAC4RS mission, which was scheduled to begin in August 2012, due to the absence of necessary approvals by regional authorities in the timeframe necessary to support the mission's planned deployment and scientific observation window," according to a statement posted on Nasa's website.

Plodprasop said media should ask the opposition party if it would oppose this research project again. "I have instructed agencies on the Thai side not to sign anything yet," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-05

[slapout]

So far, the projects country wide are behind, not started or still in discussion stage, This minister is so tied/owned by Thaksin that he cannot see the deep hole ahead of him, nor his lack of intellegenceo to understand what is not happening. His, and others in the coloation government, whole effort is directed at getting the BMA under control of the present government. If ever a man needed to be put in an 'Inactive' post, with no access to the media, he should top the list.

[Pib]

I don't know if all or just some of the canals in Bangkok are suppose to be dredged (probably just some of the hundreds or more), but a few weeks ago there was a floating dredge (i.e., a backhoe on a barge) that worked for a few days in the canal running along my western Bangkok moobaan. This floating dredge had a crew of "one" who operated the floating backhoe. He would scoop out material from the bottom of the canal and put the material along side the canal "if" there was open/unused land there...kinda like building the canal wall a little higher in places while the other places remained the same height. But since he could only put the dredged material along unused land areas, anywhere there was structures built along side the canal (much of the length) he didn't dredge anything. And the areas of the canal where he did dredge based on the amount of material he dredged/scooped-out would be like taking a teaspoon of sand out of kid's sandbox.

As I mentioned in those areas along the canal where there was no place to dump the dredged material in the backhoe's scoop he would just skip that length of the canal as he was not pulling along a barge to dump the dredged material in. I expect this type of dredging activity is occurring in some other Bangkok canals; canals which have structures along their entire length on both sides....so, if they are not using/don't have barges to dump dredged material into then I expect they just bypass areas of the canal.

What the dredge did was pretty much for show...just some contract work for some company....will add very, very, very little drainage capability in the case of the canal along my moobaan; sure hope it ain't the same situation for other Bangkok canals.

[maidu]

Plodprasop's message is politically tainted, because his party likes to take potshots at BMA whenever possible - even if not warranted.

I've noticed, everywhere I've been in Thailand, that drainages often rely on level courses and culverts for water drainage. In theory, it's valid, because water, being a liquid, will somewhat drain from level. However, in practice, even slight blockage can screw up a level drainage ditch or culvert.

It's understandable that, in Thailand, level is acceptable, because half the country is on terrain that's very close to sea level, so there is very little incline available in those parts, which include Bkk and the entire middle of the country. However, it's just not practical - particularly in lieu of a culture which allows trash to be dumped everywhere.

What to do? A. Relocate cities to higher ground, unless authorities can find a way to backfill two meters of fill dirt (and compact it) over the middle of the country. Yikes.

Pop Quiz: What causes the greatest earth displacement worldwide?

A. volcanos

B. earthquakes and tsunamis

C. landslides and avalanches

D. erosion

E. All of the above

F. earth moving machinery

Answer: F

Edited July 5, 2012 by maidu

[MaxLee]

Amazing Thailand... Where things and proactive actions happen in less than replay speed super slow motion...

[tomross46]

Yesterday I looked at Rangsit canal, Klong 1,2,3 and 4. Nothing is being done. Will Lamlokka Kolkot area be a Monkey Cheek? Where is the money going, into a now room added to the politicians house?

[thaicbr]

Yesterday I looked at Rangsit canal, Klong 1,2,3 and 4. Nothing is being done. Will Lamlokka Kolkot area be a Monkey Cheek? Where is the money going, into a now room added to the politicians house?

Is that Bangkok or Prathum thani?

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

[rubl]

Not ready by the ordered date of June, 30th?

Reminds me of this, also still waiting

2012-05-10

""Completed projects are being audited and evaluated by universities and their reports will be released soon.""

http://www.thaivisa....s/#entry5287279

[hellodolly]

did Aany one say where the money is that was meant to be spent on these projects is?

Also hemsaid

"Plodprasop disclosed that since the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) had scrapped its climate research project in Thailand"

He forgot to mention that his government was to busy trying to white wash Their leader that they did not have time to discuss the issue and it would have to wait until they had the time which conveniently they knew was after NASA would have had to scrap the project and all ready moved on.

Two to one they discuss it anyhow. Wouldn't surprise me if they approved it now that it is no longer on the table.

[Woodsie888]

Yesterday I looked at Rangsit canal, Klong 1,2,3 and 4. Nothing is being done. Will Lamlokka Kolkot area be a Monkey Cheek? Where is the money going, into a now room added to the politicians house?

Is that Bangkok or Prathum thani?

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

It's Pathum Thani right on the North East border of Bangkok. Tomross46 is correct, absolutely nothing has been done since last years flood in any of these Khlongs that is obvious to me.

[Moruya]

Plodprasop is obvioiusly still bitter at Sukhumband for exposing that fact that he is a complete chump last year

[teetersb]

What's all the fuss about? The esteemed Mr. Plodprasop will have everything under control when the flooding starts. He has more than 10,000 boats ready to rev their engines and get the water moving out to sea. Just like last year :-(

[whybother]

I don't understand why he's complaining to the BMA:

Science Minister: Bangkok will not be flooded this year

[frodo]

Yesterday I looked at Rangsit canal, Klong 1,2,3 and 4. Nothing is being done. Will Lamlokka Kolkot area be a Monkey Cheek? Where is the money going, into a now room added to the politicians house?

Is that Bangkok or Prathum thani?

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

It's Pathum Thani right on the North East border of Bangkok. Tomross46 is correct, absolutely nothing has been done since last years flood in any of these Khlongs that is obvious to me.

I have noticed some work being done on Klong 3 from Klong Luang towards Big C. Mainly shifting the mud to create a higher embankment and some removal of dead trees. Klongs 1 and 2 I have seen nothing at all, except litter building up. Hate to say it since I also live in this area, but the people deserve it this time. They have not learned a single thing since lasts years floods. I do see a lot of people continually throwing their garbage and debris into the waters and it's building up. This time, they have to look at themselves as being the problem.

One thing does worry me and that is the walls being built on Phahanyothin Rd. in the vicinity of the Thanyarak Health facility. It looks like this wall will be stretched out for a ways. I can only think if they're attempting to hold the water back from the Nakhon Nayok canals. I really see no reason for these walls being built. If this is the case, Bangkok will not be safe at all. I seriously doubt people in Rangsit and Phathumthani will sit and watch as there homes still under repairs, will allow this to happen again for a second year straight. Those walls will be down in no time and depending on the water levels, Don Mueang will go and so will parts of Bangkok.

[maidu]

I don't understand why he's complaining to the BMA:

Science Minister: Bangkok will not be flooded this year

It's not so much that he's complaining to the BMA, it's more like he's complaining about the BMA. It's political as much as anything else. BMA (Bkk ...authority) is generally Dem controlled, so if the good foot-soldier for PT can find fault with BMA, then it's points for PT and Thaksin.