Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

[webfact]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?
Written by David Fullbrook

It might be wiser to move the city

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

The government set out to put the plan in place after once-in-a-century floods in 2011 caused extensive damage, disrupted supply chains, nearly engulfing the central city. However, Japan's aid agency has presented an alternative plan that costs about half the price, and has questioned some of the assumptions and requirements in the Thai government plan.

Concerns have been raised about corruption because the government wants financing in place by June without putting the plans before parliament or it seems undertaking environmental and social impact assessments, with Pramon Sutheewong, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand saying the project clarity and that he isn't sure how the money will be spent or on what projects.

Full story: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5265&Itemid=437

-- asia sentinel 2013-03-21

[MaxLee]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited March 21, 2013 by MaxLee

[chainarong]

What is realistic is the impression I get that all is not realistic in the LOS

[h90]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

the flood plan should bring a flood of money onto the private bank accounts....that is realistic....

[laurentbkk]

do I need one more time to bring all my furniture and belonging to the first floor ?

[ChrisY1]

Has anyone seen this floodplain plan?...

[bushwacker]

The Thai Gov't should tell the Japanese to back off because Thailand has a different culture and set of standards. The demands of Thais are very different from the demands of Japanese. One only needs to compare a Japan made Honda or Toyota with a Thai designed and made Tuk Tuk.....

[Thai at Heart]

I wonder if anyone has actually runa simulation as to what would have happened if they had run the damns to an optimal level. The rainfall during that year was 50% above average up country. I can't help believing that because of the election, the entire civil service sat around and did nothing while all this rain was falling. Then as reported, someone told them to hold water back to enable rice harvests. Then whammo....

Would there even have been so called bad flooding, let alone the catastrophe that was created.

[Pib]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

It might be wiser to move the city

It might be wiser but boy would it be expensive and fought all the way by many. I'm sure all 10 million or so Bangkok residents and workers would gladly move because I'm sure they will be given replacement land, homes, business buildings, and livelihoods in the new city. Right?

[Mampara]

Nothing is realistic in our country. Its all a figment of one's imagination, nothing more, nothing less.

[drdoom6996]

The Thai Gov't should tell the Japanese to back off because Thailand has a different culture and set of standards. The demands of Thais are very different from the demands of Japanese. One only needs to compare a Japan made Honda or Toyota with a Thai designed and made Tuk Tuk.....

And this has to do with the Flood Plan HOW!

[jamhar]

If its a "once in a century",

you really don't have to worry about it for another 100 years

but we all believe it will probably happen again in the next decade,

so TL should start planning for it.

From Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok

Average elevation is 1.5m above sealevel

with some parts 1m below sealevel

This will be a HUGE undertaking, to say the least.

Edited March 21, 2013 by jamhar

[thomash]

Simpe question, simpe answer, NO!

[Tatsujin]

Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

No shit Sherlock . . . are the plans to move the capital to Ayudhya still around or were they shelved?

[MaxLee]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

Or in other words you can call this bullsh*******tloading on other provinces at the expense of protecting precious Bangkok, only Bangkok.

different presentations about Megaprojects, but disguised ad more of the same bullsh*****t as every year...

Block, block, block, dam dam dam, wall wall wall until the point of no return...

[waza]

I cant believe the Japanese cant see the fatal flaws in their plan, it costs half as much and its effective. Amazing Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

Or in other words you can call this bullsh*******tloading on other provinces at the expense of protecting precious Bangkok, only Bangkok.

different presentations about Megaprojects, but disguised ad more of the same bullsh*****t as every year...

Block, block, block, dam dam dam, wall wall wall until the point of no return...

If the plan would be to let the water through as quick as possible, and accept some localised flooding, that wouldn't do much for property prices for land and houses around the river would it.

[MaxLee]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

Or in other words you can call this bullsh*******tloading on other provinces at the expense of protecting precious Bangkok, only Bangkok.

different presentations about Megaprojects, but disguised ad more of the same bullsh*****t as every year...

Block, block, block, dam dam dam, wall wall wall until the point of no return...

If the plan would be to let the water through as quick as possible, and accept some localised flooding, that wouldn't do much for property prices for land and houses around the river would it.

Even foreign investors who plan to build their property businesses in poor infrastructure-managed and natural disaster prone-mismanaged areas, are at fault themselves, for even investing in those precious Bangkok, which is going to sink anywhere deeper I to the ground, but hats the price one pays for their own greed...

For example, those Japanese automobile firms in Ayutthaya, if they insist stating there, and if another flood happens, bad luck, their own fault. They follow their own agenda of greed, thanks and courtesy of the Pheu Thai sponsored car scheme as a firm of compensation.

Bangkok is overfilled with shopping malls, condos and property to the point if no return already, can you calculate the weight of the trillion-kachillian of buildings that have been built over the centuries??? And who's gonna stop those investors???

Edited March 21, 2013 by MaxLee

[Thai at Heart]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's massive US$11.8 billion plan for a series of dams and canals to keep the waters of the Chao Phraya River away from Bangkok is drawing concern that it may be inappropriate, too expensive, and a gigantic magnet for corruption.

Or in other words you can call this bullsh*******tloading on other provinces at the expense of protecting precious Bangkok, only Bangkok.

different presentations about Megaprojects, but disguised ad more of the same bullsh*****t as every year...

Block, block, block, dam dam dam, wall wall wall until the point of no return...

If the plan would be to let the water through as quick as possible, and accept some localised flooding, that wouldn't do much for property prices for land and houses around the river would it.

Even foreign investors who plan to build their property businesses in poor infrastructure-managed and natural disaster prone-mismanaged areas, are at fault themselves, for even investing in those precious Bangkok, which is going to sink anywhere deeper I to the ground, but hats the price one pays for their own greed...

For example, those Japanese automobile firms in Ayutthaya, if they insist stating there, and if another flood happens, bad luck, their own fault. They follow their own agenda of greed, thanks and courtesy of the Pheu Thai sponsored car scheme as a firm of compensation.

Bangkok is overfilled with shopping malls, condos and property to the point if no return already, can you calculate the weight of the trillion-kachillian of buildings that have been built over the centuries??? And who's gonna stop those investors???

I don't disagree, but it isn't the fault of construction that has been going on for say 10 years. The problems go back for donkeys years.

People have known for donkeys years which places flood and which places don't. Just look at the industrial estates, they are within walking distance of the river in some places. But why was it put there? Because 30 odd years ago, some clever people went and bought some land that was dirt cheap, because it probably used to flood too much.

The plan has basically always been, is that there is no plan, and beyond that, make as much money in as short a time period as possible. I am not saying that a property developer the world over doesn't look at it the same way, but when the rules and regs are so lax, the result, is unfortunately, Bangkok.

Edited March 21, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[khunken]

I agree with Thai at heart.

The 'plan' is first set a high budget and then let uncle-tom-cobley-and-all come up with all sorts of ideas that may (or may not) fit into the budget. Those with higher status - e.g. Plodprasop - have a greater say even though they come up with the most unrealistic ideas.

Foreigners, even the Japanese, won't be listened to as they tend not to include the usual rake-offs.

[Arkady]

Is Thailand's Floodplain Plan Realistic?

No.

[phuketsub]

As a trained hydrologist who has been following water-related issues in Thailand for 25 years, I cannot help but feel dread at the prospects for the Thai capital in the face of global warming (anthropogenic or otherwise) and the other important issues mentioned in this well-thought-out piece.. Thais need to learn a lot more about draining off floodwater, and practice a lot less of draining the minority, tax-abiding citizen of his or her hard-earned baht.

Building the Suwannabhumi Airport on a former swamp largely contributed to increased flooding in Lard Krabang, which says a lot about the Thaksin family's understanding of the issues involved. That is just one small example of how poor planning, unregulated construction and unbridled corruption are all conspiring to make a real calamity there (one that will make 2011 look like nothing) highly probable at some point in the future. I just hope is isn't in my daughter's lifetime.

Bangkok is an alluvial floodplain; these words in themselves carry the meaning of why it is tenuous to build anything thereupon, let alone skyscrapers and underground mass transit systems. For the record, it is not fair to pin this one on the current administration, as those that came before it are all complicit.

I do wonder why so many people are obsessed with Mayan Calandars, "vapor trails" and so much other bullcrap when the real issues are so very ominous.

[SgtMarlow]

Go figure another magnet for corruption in Thailand.

[belg]

i have a 0 baht plan : just do nothing, it will not happen again soon

that is THAINESS

[Locationthailand]

The last paragraph is the motive clear and simple. Corruption.

Concerns have been raised about corruption because the government wants financing in place by June without putting the plans before parliament or it seems undertaking environmental and social impact assessments, with Pramon Sutheewong, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand saying the project clarity and that he isn't sure how the money will be spent or on what projects.

What else does anyone need to know? This govt and the Shin Clan are perhaps the most corrupt in Thailand's history.