BANGKOK, Oct 31 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave her approval to raise the Klong Sam Wa sluice gate to one metre as requested by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which gave assurances that this level would not negatively impact the Bang Chan industrial estate downstream.
Angry local residents gathered at the sluice gate on Monday, demanding that it be raised to one metre from the present 0.80 metres to relieve flooding problems around their homes. The conflict escalated to the point that the residents blocked traffic on a nearby road and skirmished with the authorities.
The 0.20 metre lift will allow more floodwater to pass through. The prime minister later agreed to the BMA’s request, after determining that it would not negatively affect the Bang Chan industrial estate.
Officials were sent to explain to local residents, who were mainly satisfied with the solution, and they dispersed. But some are remained, adamant that they would keep a close watch on the water gate to ensure it would not be lowered below the one metre level.
The prime minister assessed the overall situation that if the dykes are under control in the next few days, the water levels will be stable and will later drop after the high tide period due pass today. Then water in Bangkok’s canals can be drained out.
The Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Royal Irrigation Department are cooperating to prevent the dykes being breached by waterflows or being dismantled by local residents in an attempt to prevent the floodwaters from spreading into wider areas in the capital, while the authorities are gearing up to direct the water through the canal network into the sea.
