Flood Preventions For Cm

[Donnyboy]

as Im scanning TV for updates on posts etc it is pouring down outside and it made me wonder what is happening with the flood prevention that is suppose to happen before this coming wet season.

Is anything being done to reduce/remove the risk of a replay of what happened last year?

I see theres a couple of huge water pumps sitting around town but nothing else to suggest that nothing has changed. Can someone enlighten me?

Edited July 5, 2006 by Donnyboy

[Maejo Man]

I see theres a couple of huge water pumps sitting around town but nothing else to suggest that nothing has changed. Can someone enlighten me?

The water pumps on Chalernprathet and Sridonchai have been there since the last inundation. They are like the "Happy Christmas" banners that never get taken down, as they know they will be needed again

There were massive flood prevention measures proposed for Chiangmai, but to my knowledge, none have been implemented as yet.

[SamSipEt]

Yesterday drove along the Chiang Mai – Lamphun Road and noticed a sand bag wall part way between Foreign Cemetery and the Prince Kawila Monument however this may have been a left over from last year. Academic anyway the water would just flow around it

[Donnyboy]

]

The water pumps on Chalernprathet and Sridonchai have been there since the last inundation. They are like the "Happy Christmas" banners that never get taken down, as they know they will be needed again

There were massive flood prevention measures proposed for Chiangmai, but to my knowledge, none have been implemented as yet.

Citylife August 2005

The flooding of downtown Chiang Mai in mid August came as a shock to all of us; and a blow to many. With water levels as high as 4.81 metres by Nawarat Bridge on August 15th, this was the worst flood that Chiang Mai has seen in over 30 years.

Approximately 3,192 households were submerged under water and over tens of thousands of people have reported to being affected by the flood. Many businesses locating on Chang Klan Road, Warorot Market, Chiang Mai Land, Padad Road, the Night Bazaar area and more, have faced severe damage and loss in investment.

The flood has emphasised the urgent need to restructure the city flooding prevention plans. Looking at an aerial photograph of Chiang Mai, the narrowness of the Ping River as it flows into Chiang Mai’s inner city area, is a cause of great concern for the future. Not only is the Ping getting more and more narrow in the city area but with potential overflows from Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Phrao and other areas, due to growing deforestation, city planners are looking to more stringent measures to prevent this catastrophe reoccurring.

The water levels in the Ping River jumped rapidly from 1.65 metres on August 13 to 4.57 and 4.81 metres over the following days (the danger level is 3.70 metres).

Post flood, many residents complained that they were not warned of the coming flood, while others claimed that although they were warned, they weren’t told of the potential severity, as nothing like this had occurred to them before, so didn’t prepare themselves adequately.

The Prime Minister has already announced that he will put into the government budget enough funds to build a series of mini reservoirs and dams along the Ping and her numerous tributaries spanning from Chiang Mai to Nakorn Sawan.

PM Thaksin proposed a solution that the capacity of the Ping River must be increased by expanding the width of the river within the inner city areas. Three weirs on the Ping River situated in Tambol Tasala, Nong Pueng and Ta Wang Tarn will be abolished as they block the draining of the water and a new weir will be built to replace them. The new weirs will be able to bear up to 800 cubic metres a second (the recent floods had a top speed of 740 cubic metres a second).

A budget of 29 million baht has been allocated for the study of land flanking the Ping River and to battle the increasing encroachment of the area.

I guess thats our warning that history is likely to repeat this coming wet season.

I wonder if Thaksin or one of his cronies has a consultancy firm that studies land flanking, and dam builders?

[Maejo Man]

It would appear that they are at least anticipating it this year, instead of releasing dam storages at the height of the rains, thus aiding the flooding.

North stiffens defenses against expected floods

CHIANG MAI: -- Local authorities here said Thursday they are prepared to cope with flash floods from rains expected late this month in the north.

Thada Sukabunaphan, director of the northern Center for Hydrology and Water Management, said the region anticipated monsoon rains and his office has assigned staff to monitor water levels in rivers and dams.

"We are also keeping close contact with the Meteorological Department," he said.

Mr. Thada said officials have released some water from Mae Ngad and Mae Kuang reservoirs in Chiang Mai province to free up half their capacity to receive anticipated rain water.

There is now about 68 million cubic metres of water in Mae Ngad reservoir and 130 million cubic metres stored in the larger Mae Kuang reservoir, Mr. Thada said.

''At present there is no cause of concern," he said. "But we need to pay attention to storms which can cause water levels to rise rapidly.''

Provincial authorities set up a flood monitoring centre at city hall linked to district offices and will keep the public informed through local media and other communication channels.

He said the public also could access up-to-date weather information from a government web site. Billboards warning against flash flood would be erected at Nawarat Bridge.

Local government workers have prepared sandbag barriers reinforced with concrete columns in business districts, while the military plans to deploy up to 2,000 soldiers in case of serious flooding.

--TNA 2006-07-06

[Gonzo the Face]

It would appear that they are at least anticipating it this year, instead of releasing dam storages at the height of the rains, thus aiding the flooding.

North stiffens defenses against expected floods

CHIANG MAI: -- Local authorities here said Thursday they are prepared to cope with flash floods from rains expected late this month in the north.

Thada Sukabunaphan, director of the northern Center for Hydrology and Water Management, said the region anticipated monsoon rains and his office has assigned staff to monitor water levels in rivers and dams.

"We are also keeping close contact with the Meteorological Department," he said.

Mr. Thada said officials have released some water from Mae Ngad and Mae Kuang reservoirs in Chiang Mai province to free up half their capacity to receive anticipated rain water.

There is now about 68 million cubic metres of water in Mae Ngad reservoir and 130 million cubic metres stored in the larger Mae Kuang reservoir, Mr. Thada said.

''At present there is no cause of concern," he said. "But we need to pay attention to storms which can cause water levels to rise rapidly.'' Provincial authorities set up a flood monitoring centre at city hall linked to district offices and will keep the public informed through local media and other communication channels.

He said the public also could access up-to-date weather information from a government web site. Billboards warning against flash flood would be erected at Nawarat Bridge.

Local government workers have prepared sandbag barriers reinforced with concrete columns in business districts, while the military plans to deploy up to 2,000 soldiers in case of serious flooding.

--TNA 2006-07-06

As one who was directly affected by the floods [read 7 floods] last year, and too the tune of several hundred thousand baht, I can only read into the above article, "Rote System Learning" Its only taken how many decades now for the appropiate Thais to understand that when it rains the reservoirs level will rise. WOW , a break through in modern science.

[ChiangMaiMike]

Anyone know the url for the Thai Hydrology Website that shows the level of the Ping River at various points?

Thanks,

Mike

[Maejo Man]

Anyone know the url for the Thai Hydrology Website that shows the level of the Ping River at various points?

Thanks,

Mike

You'll find it here.....http://www.hydro-1.net/

Although there was no data on it today...MM