PM: Floods arriving to Bangkok, to divert water into sea

BANGKOK, Oct 22 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said more floodwater from the northern region was arriving to Bangkok and that the water management plan was important to address the flow of floodwater to minimize impact on public.

Hosting her weekly TV programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People" on National Broadcasting Television (NBT) or Channel 11 and simulcast on Radio Thailand, the premier said extra protection would be given to historical sites, palaces, hospitals, business areas, main transportation routes, airports, MRT stations, and public utilities services.

She said the nature of water was to flow from higher to lower ground, but containing water would make the water uncontrollable, as dykes could be destroyed by the force of water.

The flood prevention wall could only slow the water, she said, but could not permanently stop the flow.

Ms Yingluck said that the government was forced to implement Article 31 of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act B.E. 2550 because there was a need to jointly manage water effectively at the national and local levels in order to drain floodwater to the sea as quickly as possible and ease difficulties.

The government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would have to cooperate in opening the water sluice gates, she said.

As precautionary measures, Ms Yingluck said she recommended the public monitor information, move their valuable items and belongings to higher ground at least one metre high, and separate electricity system in their homes between the ground floor and the second floor.

During the next round of high tide during Oct 28-30, she said, the Royal Irrigation Department would be responsible for adjusting the drainage and controlling the water sluice gates.

She said the government has prepared 1,743 shelters for flood victims at provinces affected by the flood which could serve some 800,000 people.

There were now 113,369 people sta! ying at the shelters, she said.

As for the rehabilitation plan, she said the government has prepared measures to help flood victims, including workers and business operators both major and minor.

The Prime Minister urged the public not to be panic and asked for cooperation from all relevant agencies to fight the problem and to have patience in overcoming the problems together. (MCOT online news)