Water diverted to ease deluge

Irrigation officials have begun diverting water from the Noi River to farmland in Ayutthaya to handle run-off from the North that has triggered floods in several provinces.

Published: 15/09/2012 at 12:00 AM
Writer: Post Reporters

About 100 cubic metres a second of water from the Noi River, a branch of the Chao Phraya, is being diverted through three sluice gates to a paddy field area in Phak Hai district to relieve flooding in communities alongside the Noi River, said Natthi Bosuwan, an assistant to Ayutthaya's governor.

The water retention area is a flood prevention measure of the Royal Irrigation Department to cope with the northern run-off that flows downstream of the Chao Phraya. The water will be contained in the vast tract of farmland to lessen inundation in low-lying areas.

The water diversion will not affect farmers as they have already harvested their crops, Mr Natthi said.

The officials are monitoring "massive run-off" that has left flooded Sukhothai for Phitsanulok and will then flow south towards the Chao Phraya barrage in Chai Nat, he said.

They will later decide whether to divert part of the run-off to the paddies in Bang Ban field, located to the west of the Chao Phraya, when it arrives in Ayutthaya.

Water levels in the Noi, Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers yesterday increased by 5-20cm and will rise further over the next two days following the release of more water from the Chao Phraya barrage, the Office of Regional Irrigation 12 said.

About 3,000 households near the Noi River in Sena district have been flooded, causing authorities to declare disaster zones in eight tambons.

Learning of the flood situation in Ayuthaya, His Majesty the King has provided 2,000 survival kits for distribution to people in Sena and Bang Ban districts.

Many people in the neighbouring province of Ang Thong are also affected.

Flash floods in the Central Plains yesterday forced residents in tambon Champa Lo of Muang district to dismantle their homes located by the Chao Phraya and relocate elsewhere for fear it will be collapsed into the river.

Earlier, a 200m section of the riverbank was destroyed by the rising water level.

As more run-off could flow downwards to Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya, Sakdiphong Thamachawakun, assistant to tambon Bang Nga's mayor in Lop Buri, has called on the government to divert more water to the Ta Chin River because a section of the Chao Phraya in the three provinces is "too narrow and shallow" to receive a large amount of water.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sought to calm people in tambon Sa Pho Thong and Non Kok in Chaiyaphum's Kaset Sombun district, where a torrent from the Phu Laen Kha mountain range has caused widespread flooding of crop fields and local roads.

In Tak province, strong overflow from the Wang River has broken through a road levee and put Ban Yang Ong Nam as deep as 1.5m under water. About 400 homes have been flooded.

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Discussion 1 : 16/09/2012 at 02:26 AM: All hail abbub! For in his eyes if you do not agree with him all comments come down to a comic book style! Ian with this coment " Some people talk, other people do. Most people in this forum are good at talking." I am glad you are including yourself. So much talk from the PTP and the DEMS nothing gets done if this country except money goes missing.
Discussion 2 : 15/09/2012 at 09:52 PM: Now have heavy rain and again the deluge coming from the big dump from the half-full dam.
Discussion 3 : 15/09/2012 at 07:51 PM: Discussion 12: You are spot on!
Discussion 4 : 15/09/2012 at 06:38 PM: The question is how much collateral damage will there be from this diverted water. How many Ayhutthaya residents' homes will be flooded as a result?
Discussion 5 : 15/09/2012 at 04:49 PM: #12 Udon_Red The last biggest inondation in Bangkok was in May 1986, 26 years ago. Then Chamlong Srimuang became Bangkok governor and help a lot Bangkok by draining canals, build dykes.... At this time, very few high buildings in downtown and the population in the Bangkok suburds was not important as now. Unfortunately, selfishness and corruption never stop until now and we have to face so many problems now...
Discussion 6 : 15/09/2012 at 02:48 PM: @Disc 12 - Was there any flooding in Bangkok in the 2000s and beyond? NO. Why? because they have improve the drainage systems. Did Industrial Estates flood in the late 1990s? NO. So why all the flooding? Too much rain? yes that is part of the problem. But the other part is the governments inability to control water released from the Dams, which is why areas that never flood are being flooded since last year. Agriculture minister even admitted they released the water late last year for farmers to get in their third crop. Its still a government mismanagement issue.
Discussion 7 : 15/09/2012 at 02:42 PM: I wonder if this is still an "accident" based on what Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said happened in Ayuthaya.
Discussion 8 : 15/09/2012 at 01:41 PM: 'The water diversion will not affect farmers as they have already harvested their crops, Mr Natthi said.' I don't believe that! What about the animal farmers (e.g. buffalo, cattle, chicken)? And not all crops are harvested at the same time every year or we would not have vegetables and fruit available all year long.
Discussion 9 : 15/09/2012 at 01:08 PM: Discussion 3: She will have trotted out her usual line: "I don't know about this. I'll get back to you."
Discussion 10 : 15/09/2012 at 12:57 PM: It is astonishing that we have not yet had the sustained torrential downpours of last year, nor are we burdened by overfull dams, and yet there is serious flooding. On a Thursday a week ago when a first heavy downpour occurred we were assured that the localised flooding was due to run off of the rain. But, while passing through the flooded area, I saw fountains of water spurting from the drains; this was certainly not a matter of run off and clogged drains! What is going on?
Discussion 11 : 15/09/2012 at 12:35 PM: #10jck: Agree wholeheartedly. Farangs will never have a voice or vote in this country BUT voicing our opinions on the double standards and injustices - especially concerning corruption and nepotism - will give Thai people confidence to speak out knowing they are not alone in their feelings on these matters.
Discussion 12 : 15/09/2012 at 10:56 AM: I first came to Thailand 23 years ago and there was bad flooding back then in many parts of Bangkok. Was that Thaksins fault or the current governments? NO Its all part of the many Thai's culture caring for themselves regardless of the consequences for others, as well as just accepting corruption as part of daily life. The more you see behind those beautiful smiles the more you see the levels of selfishness and utter jealously
Discussion 13 : 15/09/2012 at 10:42 AM: lan D6: Talking is what people DO in forums. What other forum activities would you suggest?
Discussion 14 : 15/09/2012 at 10:30 AM: #6, Ian: With an apparently farang name you should know that farangs are second class citizens here and nobody listens to their advice and they have absolutely no ability to action their thoughts on anything to do with Thai politics or anything else Thai for that matter. But many comments are enlightening showing what could be with some competent "doers" in charge and they certainly raise the amusement level of our daily reading.
Discussion 15 : 15/09/2012 at 10:22 AM: Mine is the only comment so far....I do not mean to beat my chest, but why participate in the comments circus by allowing the same people agian and again to bring down the comments to a comic book level?
Discussion 16 : 15/09/2012 at 10:04 AM: Where has the money gone? you know as well as I do where its gone well 40% of it the rest looks like going on compensation. Who is in charge mickey mouse? I withdraw that comment as it makes Mickey and Mr Disney out to be as incompetent.The sad situation is that we can not believe anything the people in charge say.It is all, it may be but there again it may not with conflicting stories from all sides its unbelievable the incompetence of the top brass.
Discussion 17 : 15/09/2012 at 10:01 AM: Are the red shirt daily posters on holiday today? I was looking forward to reading their intellectual comments that'll most certainly vindicate this government's flood prevention measures.
Discussion 18 : 15/09/2012 at 09:59 AM: Some people talk, other people do. Most people in this forum are good at talking.
Discussion 19 : 15/09/2012 at 09:41 AM: Disc#3: "Be interesting to hear what she said to them." Answer: There is no flooding, it is all in your imagination.
Discussion 20 : 15/09/2012 at 09:31 AM: "Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sought to calm people in tambon Sa Pho Thong and Non Kok in Chaiyaphum's Kaset Sombun district" 'Don't worry children, Mommie is with you...' drying your tears with a towel, so they don't add to the floods.
Discussion 21 : 15/09/2012 at 08:45 AM: "Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sought to calm people in tambon Sa Pho Thong and Non Kok in Chaiyaphum's Kaset Sombun district, where a torrent from the Phu Laen Kha mountain range has caused widespread flooding of crop fields and local roads." Be interesting to hear what she said to them.
Discussion 22 : 15/09/2012 at 08:33 AM: This total incompetence and ignorance from the relevant people is unbelievable. I wrote here last year they should hire a EU consulting firm (there are specialists for this) and do what they say to handle this water problem, obviously they haven't done it. Anyone know where the billions for flood prevention went?
Discussion 23 : 15/09/2012 at 04:34 AM: Here we go again ! The goverment led by thaksin by phone from abroad has again lost focus.All it seems they care about is getting thaksin back and making promises that they can not keep.It is not that many days ago that the goverment promissed that there would be no flood this year.Yetserday I could not get to work ! I got as far a Phia Thai BTS station but no further.The water was close to 30cm deep around the BTS station so if places in Bangkok already has problems now,how will will it be when the floodwaters gets closer ? Guess it is soon time to start packing.

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