'No risk of mega flood' - official
There is no risk of a mega flood this year if the rainfall level is normal, according to a meteorological department forecast, while two major dams will not overflow, said a senior official of the Royal Irrigation Department.
MCOT Online
Wednesday 20 June 2012, 03:35PM
Mr Suthep Noipairoj, Deputy Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department, affirmed that the two major dams - the Bhumibol dam and the Sirikit dam – are capable of retaining more water and that reserve water is adequate for crop cultivation in the central region.
However, he conceded that low-lying areas in Ayutthaya and Ang Thong are likely to be submerged as is a normal occurrence every year.
Nevertheless, residential, commercial zones and industrial estates will be safe from flooding, he added.
Meanwhile, farmers in Phitsanulok, in lower Northern Thailand, have reinforced sand embankments to protect paddy fields from floods originating from upstream North after northern run-off started overflowing some areas.
Farmers in Baan Krang sub-district filled sandbags to build temporary dykes to protect 3,200 acres of paddy fields nearly ready for harvest.
As rain continues and some rice paddies have been flooded, farmers asked the Provincial Royal Irrigation to speed up the dredging of two canals and a river to drain flood water into waterways flowing into the Yom River.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Wasan Meewong said that agencies are acting quickly to get contingency plans in place for flooding, especially given the recent amount of rain, NNT reported.
Mr Wasan said that Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra had ordered canal dredging and sewer unclogging to be sped up and that high-capacity water pumps are being installed, NNT reported. He added that the city has learned from last year’s flooding and has a more efficient and effective plan this year.
The BMA also said that it will try to deliver compensation money to victims of last year’s flooding by July 29. Wasan said the BMA will receive allotted funds from the government and begin transferring it to victims by Krung Thai Bank on June 26.
According to an Assumption University ABAC poll, over 70 per cent of Thais believe that the country will be hit by flood again this year.
– with NNT
