FLOOD THREAT

Bangkokians still not fully confident

The Nation on Sunday

Bangkok: -- Poll reveals mixed level of faith that govt can handle flood

Most Bangkokians are not fully confident about the Yingluck administration's measures to contain possible flooding, a recent poll has found. Dusit poll stated, however, that majority of respondents in the west of Bangkok were satisfied by the government's recent water drainage drill.

More than a third - 38 per cent - of respondents said they were rather satisfied with the flood-prevention measures but 29.5 per cent said they were not really satisfied, because other areas may be affected by flooding if it rained heavily.

Some 20 per cent said they thought the government was competent enough to handle a possible flood while 11 per cent said they thought the money being spent on flood prevention was unnecessary and wasteful, and that more should be done in other areas, not just Bangkok.

Asked if the recent release of water in a drill in the west of the capital had increased confidence in the government's ability to prevent floods, 32 per cent of respondents said they were not really confident. Another 30 per cent said they were rather confident - because they believe there won't be much rain this year and there was likely to be better cooperation.

About 23 per cent believed the government will be able to handle things this year, however, as they appeared to have learnt some lessons from the last flood, such as unclogging canals and wastewater. Fifteen per cent said they had no confidence because no experts had made any guarantee.

Meanwhile, Ayutthaya deputy governor Nathawee Narissirikul reported that industrial operators were confident that four industrial estates could handle a flood, as their prevention works had progressed past 85 per cent of what needed to be done, except the Saha Rattana Nakorn estate in Nakhon Luang district.

The four estates' floodwalls were two metres higher than the flood level last year, while each site was also equipped with earth dikes and water pumps, he said. Construction of the Saha Rattana Nakorn floodwall, however, had been slow and obstructed by rainfall. So, if a flood occurred, it might not be able to protect factories so some operators had moved elsewhere, he said.

Royol Chitradon, director of the Hydro and Agro-Informatics Institute which is under the Science Ministry, said a system to handle possible flooding was already in place.

Yesterday, the government deferred another drill to let water from the north flow down through the capital after a spell of heavy rain over the past few days.

Pheu Thai spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab also urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to assure that water drainage tunnels were in working order.

-- The Nation 2012-09-09

You can't blame them......they had to cancel a flood test due to..........flooding.........it doesn't exactly inspire confidence

The only poll that will count will be the next heavy sustained rains

Not much to say, but, it <deleted> floods somewhere in BKK every year, I could be wrong

As long aa I can see "water-pushing-machines" in "action" I have no confidence at all.

Must be something about Sunday...

Flooding hits Phichit, 3 Phisanulok districts ready for evacuation /MCOT

Run for the hills ......

Flooding hits Phichit, 3 Phisanulok districts ready for evacuation /MCOT

Run for the hills ......

No, just start the "Plodprasob-super-water-pushing-machines".

BTW water level in the Bangkok Noi khlong today is about 20 cm higher than in the previous days and the veggie is floating upstream (seen from my condo). It seems that excess water from the Chao Phraya is pushing in.

Not flooding at mine. Good job.

Hmm it rains for 36hrs and your doing drain tests.. Smartest idea?

update:

Drainage test lifts confidence in flood preparations

Anuphan Chantana

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most Bangkokians have confidence in the government's ability to handle floods this year as they were satisfied with the result of last week's drainage test in the western and eastern zones of the capital, according to Abac Poll.

Meanwhile, many of them said the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) should stop fighting and blaming each other about the city's management system that failed to cope with the floods in many areas. About 41.8 per cent of them said they believed the government's flood prevention plan would save Bangkok.

About 43.5 per cent of respondents said the government's spending on flood prevention measures and construction was in the right direction but about 21.1 per cent of them said the government should invest this huge amount of money into other projects to develop the country.

The majority of participants said they could see that the government and the BMA lacked cooperation with each other in dealing with the flood. They also lacked readiness to prepare infrastructure and equipment to prevent floods - such as dredging canals and installing water pumps. Moreover, they said there were no designated authorities to inform them about the flood situation.

However, the respondents agreed to give about 5 of 10 points to the BMA and another five points to the government for measures to prevent flood.

BMA deputy governor Malinee Sukkhavejvorakij said people should also think about what they can do or not do to prevent floods. They also must provide cooperation to the BMA. This would be an effective way to handle the large amount of water.

She was speaking at a public forum entitled Strategy for Empowering Local People to handle floods organised yesterday by BMA and Thammasat University.

Meanwhile, Pramote Maikrat, a former director-general of the Irrigation Department, said people should not panic about flooding, saying the flooding is a natural disaster and communities could prepare themselves to reduce the calamity from this disaster.

"People should keep themselves updated on current affairs as they could make their own decision on what they have to do to curb the flood," he said.

Wanpen Thanthaphutta, a chairperson of Thonburi 3 Housing Community, said people in each community should team up with each other to prevent flooding.

"Cooperation between each other is the most important thing that would save the community," she said.

-- The Nation 2012-09-10

Meanwhile, Pramote Maikrat, a former director-general of the Irrigation Department, said people should not panic about flooding, saying the flooding is a natural disaster and communities could prepare themselves to reduce the calamity from this disaster.

Ah no need to worry then!. Flooding is only a natural disaster.

Meanwhile, Pramote Maikrat, a former director-general of the Irrigation Department, said people should not panic about flooding, saying the flooding is a natural disaster and communities could prepare themselves to reduce the calamity from this disaster.

Ah no need to worry then!. Flooding is only a natural disaster.

Mayor of Pompeii AD78 - "Volcanoes are only a natural disaster...."