Governor under fire as rains bring Bangkok to a standstill

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BANGKOK
Governor under fire as rains bring city to a standstill
Tanatpong Kongsai,
Supachai Phettewee
The Nation



BANGKOK: - PRESSURE IS building on Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra after millions of commuters in the capital suffered a traffic nightmare due to flooded roads yesterday morning.

In addition to loud complaints on social media, the Stop Global Warming Association also called for Sukhumbhand to be sacked.

The association issued a statement demanding the removal of Sukhumbhand, other executives at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and district office directors responsible for the city administration's inefficiency in tackling flood threats.

The statement suggested that they could be removed by either the National Council for Peace and Order chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, or Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda.

"Please replace them with efficient, experienced and knowledgeable persons," the association said in the statement.

It warned that the failure to remove them could result in Bangkok continually suffering flooding.

Many Bangkok people lamented yesterday that they were forced to spend hours on the roads trying to get to work or send their children to school. Some schools decided to close for the day.

Ironically, as flooding wreaked havoc in the capital, Sukhumbhand and his deputies were in the Netherlands inspecting a water-drainage system.

Later in the day yesterday, Sukhumbhand gave an interview to Nation Channel explaining that the trip was made in response to an invitation and he would head home today. He apologised to those who had been affected by the flooding-caused traffic woes.

However, he explained that it took time for water to drain from road surfaces following heavy rain, with yesterday's downpour beginning at around 1am and lasting for hours.

BMA spokesperson Threedow Aphaiwongs Sukhum announced on Facebook that the heavy rain spread across the capital and at the Lat Krabang District Office the rainfall reached 103 millimetres.

Several key roads in Bangkok were swamped with floodwater. Among them were Bang Na-Trad, Sukhumvit, Asoke-Montri, Rama IV, Rama III and Lat Krabang.

At worst-hit spots, the floodwater was as high as 50 centimetres.

Flooding is a serious issue in Bangkok, and when Sukhumbhand campaigned for his second term as Bangkok governor he highlighted a policy to prevent floods.

So far, after two more years in office, many Bangkok residents feel he cannot deliver on his policy.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Nipon Charoenphon said that the failure to effectively drain water off road surfaces was a key problem affecting traffic flow.

"We have been in contact with the BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department. But the situation doesn't seem to improve on Asoke-Montri Road," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Governor-under-fire-as-rains-bring-city-to-a-stand-30261889.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-09

[jcisco]

Fortunately last nights downpour wasn't anywhere as large as Mondays

[Bluespunk]

"In addition to loud complaints on social media, the Stop Global Warming Association also called for Sukhumbhand to be sacked."

Yes because he caused global warming.

[Bluespunk]

"The statement suggested that they could be removed by either the National Council for Peace and Order chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, or Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda.

"Please replace them with efficient, experienced and knowledgeable persons," the association said in the statement."

Not the electorates choice then?

[Robby nz]

Now if only half of those who chose to drive their private cars, mostly one person per vehicle, in the city were to leave them at home and use public transport then, rain or not, the traffic congestion would be sorted.

All that lovely desperately needed water going to waste, what would those in the drought areas give for good downpours like that ?

Anyone who can come up with a method of efficiently moving water to where it is needed will be a national hero.

[marquess]

Perhaps if there is a sustained campaign to remove all the illegal buildings and other impedia obstructing the canals, then drainage might be a little easier.

[lee b]

I feel sorry for all who got stuck in these jams, especially the poor people on the old thai buses with no A/c

[z42]

They should do what KL did with the underground flood tunnels that when not in use for that double as traffic routes easing congestion on the roads.

[MESmith]

Have they cleaned out the storm drains yet, or do they need to wait for the first flood of the year to be reminded to do so?

[Chupup]

They should do what KL did with the underground flood tunnels that when not in use for that double as traffic routes easing congestion on the roads.

Agreed but this is Thailand, lots of promises to sort things out, which are soon forgotten as soon as the rain stops as an aside isn't BKK sinking into the sea by a few MMs every year

[clockman]

And it will come again, it is not if, it is when! Just the basic clearing of klongs. But no big payoff doing that. So forget.

[Manbing]

Same s#!+ different year. It was Yingsy under the gun last time I recall?.

Let's all agree Thailand needs to upgrade its drainage as a priority.

The big guy should crackdown on floods, send them for reeducation.

[tbthailand]

"The statement suggested that they could be removed by either the National Council for Peace and Order chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, or Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda.

"Please replace them with efficient, experienced and knowledgeable persons," the association said in the statement."

Not the electorates choice then?

when you have a hammer, every problem is a nail.

when you have Art 44, ...

[jerojero]

Explained it takes time for water to drain away.... Duh!

[zakk9]

Unfortunately, even if he did a good job to prevent flooding, there would still be water in the streets. That's a fact of life when a city of Bangkok's size is built a meter above sea level. The measures to prevent it would be so massive that few would accept to live with them and certainly not pay for them.

[geriatrickid]

They should do what KL did with the underground flood tunnels that when not in use for that double as traffic routes easing congestion on the roads.

Impossible. KL is on average just under 22m above sea level. Bangkok is on average 1.5 m above sea level with sections at or below sea level.

KL and Bangkok have very different soil characteristics. Bangkok was a natural wetland/swamp that was built over. It has a layer of clay over water. Not the best soil for drainage properties or supporting structures without risk of subsidence.

KL had a strong base of limestone for 1/2 the city and much of the key business areas and sedimentary rock and sand in the Kenny Hills formation. Your tunnel proposal makes use of two holding ponds and they are an integral part of the flood diversion plan because the water has to be held somewhere and then slowly drained. There is nowhere to build drainage ponds in Bangkok. As well, the elevation of Bangkok would preclude the natural elevation drainage method of KL.

The people of Bangkok need to understand that they are living in a place where they do not belong. The swamp land was reclaimed centuries ago for farming use. The structures and drainage was built for farming, not high density urban living. There is no way to save Bangkok unless large portions of the city are given up to build proper drainage and protection structures. None of the land owners will ever agree to that. It's easier to blame the governor than to accept that Bangkok is several million people too large. In 50 years, as the city floods worsen maybe the people will get it. By then the BMA will hold 15-20 million people and they will have to go somewhere.

[MaxLee]

Coming soon... "Mega Flood Thailand 2011 part 2"....

[Guest]

They should do what KL did with the underground flood tunnels that when not in use for that double as traffic routes easing congestion on the roads.

Impossible. KL is on average just under 22m above sea level. Bangkok is on average 1.5 m above sea level with sections at or below sea level.

KL and Bangkok have very different soil characteristics. Bangkok was a natural wetland/swamp that was built over. It has a layer of clay over water. Not the best soil for drainage properties or supporting structures without risk of subsidence.

KL had a strong base of limestone for 1/2 the city and much of the key business areas and sedimentary rock and sand in the Kenny Hills formation. Your tunnel proposal makes use of two holding ponds and they are an integral part of the flood diversion plan because the water has to be held somewhere and then slowly drained. There is nowhere to build drainage ponds in Bangkok. As well, the elevation of Bangkok would preclude the natural elevation drainage method of KL.

The people of Bangkok need to understand that they are living in a place where they do not belong. The swamp land was reclaimed centuries ago for farming use. The structures and drainage was built for farming, not high density urban living. There is no way to save Bangkok unless large portions of the city are given up to build proper drainage and protection structures. None of the land owners will ever agree to that. It's easier to blame the governor than to accept that Bangkok is several million people too large. In 50 years, as the city floods worsen maybe the people will get it. By then the BMA will hold 15-20 million people and they will have to go somewhere.

Thank you.... good piece of writing.

[bobmac10]

Same s#!+ different year. It was Yingsy under the gun last time I recall?.

Let's all agree Thailand needs to upgrade its drainage as a priority.

The big guy should crackdown on floods, send them for reeducation.

Yeah, it was Yingluck's fault last time, but that seems to have been forgotten now.

What a charade.

[rubl]

Have they cleaned out the storm drains yet, or do they need to wait for the first flood of the year to be reminded to do so?

They did, a few times already. Just check the news from one or two months ago.

Mind you, with Thai still in a lifelong build up habit of dropping anything they no longer need and let the Gods take care of it, we will need re-education camps for a bit more than just seven-day training sessions.

[tx22cb]

Have they cleaned out the storm drains yet, or do they need to wait for the first flood of the year to be reminded to do so?

The first flood of the year is not used as a reminder to clean the drains - it (the first flood of the year) is used to flush out the drains.

[boomerangutang]

Here's something which would help a little bit: Intersections with dedicated right turn signals/lanes.

4-way intersections in Thailand only allow one lane to move at any one time. If there were dedicated right turn lanes, along with traffic lights with right-turn arrows (red and green), then TWO/OPPOSING LANES COULD MOVE CONCURRENTLY.

Traffic lights are not needed on lightly used side roads. That would ease traffic flow along busier lanes. I've seen, in Thailand and Burma, intersections where traffic lights have been installed - where there are almost no vehicles coming in from small side roads. The main road might have 50 vehicles/minute whereas the side road may have one motorbike/minute.

Similarly, with T-junctions. The top of the T should have a lane which is always open for moving traffic. The traffic lights could keep changing as before, and the open lane would not interfere - and would, of course, keep traffic moving non-stop in that one direction.

My former town, in California, had zero traffic lights. Population: about 200,000. Granted, a lot smaller than Bkk, but not smaller than many towns in Thailand which have dozens of traffic lights. A key factor: decency by drivers, and willingness to stop at stop signs. The same town had zero fast-food franchises, but that's a different topic.

Edited June 9, 2015 by boomerangutang

[rubl]

Fortunately last nights downpour wasn't anywhere as large as Mondays

Not sure. From where I live (Khet Dusit in Bangkok) last night sounded like heavier rain than the night before. Started arounf 1:30AM and went on and off for a few hours.

[upena]

Blame it on those that just prayed for rain

[Jeremy50]

I am not quite sure what kind of idiot would own a car in Bangkok, but there seem to be millions of them. 'If you dig your own grave........................................................'

[quandow]

Same s#!+ different year. It was Yingsy under the gun last time I recall?.

Let's all agree Thailand needs to upgrade its drainage as a priority.

The big guy should crackdown on floods, send them for reeducation.

Yeah, it was Yingluck's fault last time, but that seems to have been forgotten now.

What a charade.

No she was cleared of those charges: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/455328/yingluck-cleared-of-flood-mismanagement

[brewsterbudgen]

Now if only half of those who chose to drive their private cars, mostly one person per vehicle, in the city were to leave them at home and use public transport then, rain or not, the traffic congestion would be sorted.

Please no. The BTS and MRT are already completely overcrowded in rush hour.

[Bernard Flint]

I realy hope the floods get sorted in Bangkok, then the thais would not come to Pattaya and buy the condos, and coming here at weekend, gridlocking our roads too,.

[brewsterbudgen]

I am not quite sure what kind of idiot would own a car in Bangkok, but there seem to be millions of them. 'If you dig your own grave........................................................'

What a ridiculous comment.

[clockman]

Thais always want to run before they can walk. Building mega malls. But not removing rubbish from klongs. Everything is for show. But the basics are forgotten. And the big flood is coming one day.