- Published: 01/09/2012 at 12:00 AM
- Writer: Post Reporters
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, however, maintains the controversial trial should be postponed.
"I can assure you that there are no conflicts [between us] at all, but only concerns raised," Mr Yongyuth said during a joint press conference with MR Sukhumbhand and his deputy, Teerachon Manomaiphibul, yesterday.
The joint press conference was held after City Hall disagreed with the government's plan to conduct a trial of water drainage systems in Bangkok on Wednesday and Friday.
The plan was initiated by Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, chairman of the Water and Flood Resources Management Committee (WFRMC).
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) feared the trial would cause floods in some areas.
MR Sukhumbhand said yesterday the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration was not opposed to the WFRMC's plan to test the canal network's drainage capacity in the east and west of Bangkok.
He said his concerns centred on a weather forecast that heavy rain was expected across 60% of Thailand. A storm would probably reach the country next week at the time the drainage test is being carried out, he said.
Khlong Lat Phrao and Khlong Bang Sue - that are under the care of the Science and Technology Ministry - have yet to be dredged properly to make them ready for the test, the Bangkok governor said.
The BMA would order its water gates closed immediately if water in the canals rises to an unusually high level in flood-prone areas including the Sethakij community in Bang Kae district.
BMA officers will be sent to these flood-prone areas to monitor water levels and promptly alert the BMA authorities to consider shutting the water gates.
Unforeseen consequences could erupt if the drainage test coincides with the run-off and high sea levels, Mr Teerachon said.
He said he was not against the drainage trial but would rather that Mr Plodprasop consider postponing it until conditions posed less risk.
Mr Yongyuth said he would then inform Mr Plodprasop about the need to dredge the canals before the drainage test begins.
Mr Plodprasop yesterday said Mr Teerachon was "telling a lie" about high sea levels expected during the drainage test next week as that the information he had showed that next week would have the lowest sea levels of the year.
He insisted that the proposed drainage trial had been well planned in advance.
Mr Plodprasop also argued that the dredging of Khlong Lat Phrao was 50% completed and that the canal was ready to receive water flows during the flood drainage test.
High tide is projected at 2.9 metres above the average sea level between 8pm to 10pm on Wednesday and Friday, an officer at the Royal Thai Navy's Hydrographic Department said, adding that next week is not a high tide period.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday presided over the opening of an exhibition on the government's water management scheme entitled "Working Hard towards Water Management for all People" at Bangkok Convention Hall, Central Plaza Lat Phrao.
The premier led a a group of Thai and foreign media, diplomats and private sectors touring the event, which will run until Sunday, and aims to boost public and foreign investors' confidence about the government's flood prevention scheme.
"The government has brought the experience of last year's floods to improve water management to prepare for possible disasters in the short- and long-term periods," she said.
Payungsak Chartsutthipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, who participated in the exhibition, said that the private sector would like the government to balance the importance between flood and drought management because they could both cause damage to the country's economy.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 01/09/2012 at 10:52 PM
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Does the BMA think that they will be able to control the high tide when the floods do start happening?
It needs to be tested wether there is a high tide or not. Actually during a high tide would be the best test.
Somebody has not done there job if they don't want a test.
- Discussion 2 : 01/09/2012 at 07:36 PM
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Mother Nature has been more than fair by giving Thailand forever to prepare for and deal with floods. She keeps it basic by always bringing the rainy season between the hot and cold seasons so people won’t be shocked, surprised or confused when the annual event occurs . . . but they are! Testing the canals makes sense but where is the volume of test water needed coming from? Please don’t tell me “from the dams”. The biggest contributing factor to last year’s floods was human error caused primarily by dam management being no damn good. If I was one of the investors being soothed by speeches, I’d be wearing my wading boots.
- Discussion 3 : 01/09/2012 at 06:10 PM
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This is not a time for petty squabbling. The public are unlikely to forgive avoidable mistakes a second time around. You don't need a higher degree in rocket science to understand that testing the effectiveness of Bangkok's drainage system ahead of possible flooding later in the year is something that ought to be done sooner rather than later!
- Discussion 4 : 01/09/2012 at 06:09 PM
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Bangkok isnt the problem .The dams and long rain fall are .The water sweeps down from up country .Have any trees been planted ? Are the dams drained ? Have water retention areas been planned out properly ? Ya I thought so .What are you waiting for ?
- Discussion 5 : 01/09/2012 at 04:42 PM
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I would assume they would not just fill the entire system to the top instantly for a test, rather slowly release the water so the level increases at a controlable rate. This test will certainly give good indications as to where the problems areas still exist in and around Bangkok. The governor must know he is not ready for this test.
- Discussion 6 : 01/09/2012 at 02:24 PM
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It has been planned long in advance. Good, but you can't plan wheather conditions long in advance. So if they predict rain and storms for next week, then postponing it might be reasonable.
If everything is under your control, you can plan and just pull the plan through. But if one of the factors is out of your control, then you have to include some flexibility into your plan.
- Discussion 7 : 01/09/2012 at 01:43 PM
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Seeing the argument about tides and when high tides[spring]are is calculable.Spring are when the sun and moon are aligned and the moon is closest to the destination.I admit that the only way to be dead accurate about the hight is to measure it at a given time but that must have been done years ago.
- Discussion 8 : 01/09/2012 at 12:26 PM
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The reason why Mr Plodprasop still has is job, must ask the boss in Dubai.
After 1 year can the "Science and Technology Minister' show us scientific proof of his "boat propeller theory" ?
There will be a hell of a drought after the rainy season ends in 2 month.
This gov. with their thai-logic: wannie and pungnie, let the water in the dams out until May 2012.
- Discussion 9 : 01/09/2012 at 10:59 AM
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PT have not shown any great ability as a government but testing (by experienced engineers) is an essential part of flood defence preparations. If the BMA have done their part of the job, there is nothing for them to fear.
- Discussion 10 : 01/09/2012 at 10:51 AM
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Mr Plodprasop yesterday said Mr Teerachon was "telling a lie" about high sea levels expected during the drainage test next week as that the information he had showed that next week would have the lowest sea levels of the year.
Mr Teerachon should consult the published tide tables!
- Discussion 11 : 01/09/2012 at 09:31 AM
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If the canals do not drain properly when there is no flood, then what do you expect will happen when there is a flood? better get it over with, and find out what needs to be fixed asap
- Discussion 12 : 01/09/2012 at 09:26 AM
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Me thinks the two sides have been told to sort it.It dose not look good to prospective investors.However a bigger obstetrical against foreign investment is corruption.
- Discussion 13 : 01/09/2012 at 07:05 AM
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Either the BMA or the government is correct about the tides next week and I would go for the government backed up by the Royal Thai Navy's Hydrographic Department.
High tide is projected at 2.9 metres above the average sea level between 8pm to 10pm on Wednesday and Friday, an officer at the Royal Thai Navy's Hydrographic Department said, adding that next week is not a high tide period.
- Discussion 14 : 01/09/2012 at 04:47 AM
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not a good idea to play with nature,if the minister wants to play water games,there plenty of recreation parks, releasing millions of tonne of water from the dam isnt a good idea
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