Thailand, more flooding is on the way, experts warn

Thailand remains at risk of more flooding this year mainly because the level of water stored in major dams is higher than this time last year, a seminar on flood risks was told.

Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, secretary-general to the National Economic and Social Development Board, said the situation called for better coordination to balance out conflicting needs for agriculture, electricity generating and flood prevention.

"Agencies may need to discharge the water as soon as possible because a delay may cause heavy damage like last year," Mr Arkhom warned.

A report by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand showed that on Jan 24, Bhumibol dam was nearly 86% full and the Sirikit dam 84% full.

He said the Strategic Formulation Committee for Water Resources Management chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong will work out ways to prevent both drought and flood.

Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute director Royal Chitradon said Thailand can no longer rely on the previous year's volume of rainfall as base data for water management.

He proposed that the government use its infrastructure to manage floodwater to the fullest capacity including draining the water through Bangkok.

Strategic Formulation Committee secretary-general Vichien Chavalit said town planning and land use patterns must be revised to prevent flooding from causing extensive damage.

Meanwhile, Seree Supratid, a lecturer on disaster management, yesterday urged the government to start making preparations for early flooding.

Citing weather forecasts from several agencies that rainfall would come early this year, he said there was a strong chance that rivers could overflow in two months. He said there needs to be a comprehensive situation assessment plan, before and during the flood.

"It is what we lack," Mr Seree said. "This year the government has no choice but to be in control of the water situation."

Mr Seree said whether or not Bangkok would be flooded this year would largely depend on storms which were expected to increase this year. It was hard to predict where these storms would hit.

He said short-term measures which were being prepared would not be ready to cope with flooding if the country encountered an usually large volume of water like it did last year.

Authorities need to analyse city plans to handle flooding efficiently. It would be useless trying to solve the problem without consulting them.

He suggested the government take the floodway project seriously. The planned floodway route is blocked by buildings, factories and other infrastructure.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said the government was making the necessary preparations to deal with floods this year. The situation had been assessed and the results would help strengthen flood preparedness.

Meanwhile, the Stop Global Warming Association has demanded the government award 7.7 million baht to each family of the 816 people killed in the recent flooding _ the same amount which victims of political unrest will get under a restitution package approved by the cabinet recently.

• < Prev
• Next >