Bangkok, Bangkok has launched a plan to deal with 8 flood-prone areas on main roads, accelerating improvements to the drainage system, preparing for this year’s rainy season.
Mr. Wisanu Traisompol, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, along with Mr. Ekwaranyu Amrapal, Spokesperson of Bangkok, executives of the Drainage and Sewerage Department, took the media to follow the development and improvement of Bangkok’s drainage system to solve the problem of flood risk points in 8 important risk points in 5 districts.
The deputy governor of Bangkok said that this visit was a homework assignment for Bangkokians before the heavy rains of this year. He said that Bangkok has improved the drainage system on main roads and prepared to deal with the water situation. In Bangkok, there are 737 flooding problems, divided into 120 flooding problems from water upstream and 617 flooding problems from rainwater.
From the analysis of data in 2022, the Bangkok area had a total rainfall of 2,355.5 millimeters, which was 40% higher than th
e 30-year average (1991-2020). In particular, in September, the rainfall in the Bangkok area was as high as 801.5 millimeters, 2.48 times higher than the 30-year average of September, which was higher than the capacity of the drainage system, resulting in flooding in many areas. The Bangkok governor therefore gave a policy for the Drainage and Sewerage Department and district offices to jointly learn from the flood situation of that year.
For the 8 points visited today, they are considered important flood risk points. Bangkok has improved the drainage system and worked with government and private agencies. Many projects have been completed and can solve the flooding problem in each area more effectively. The 8 risk points include: 1. Water pumping pond, Military Police Canal No. 11, Ratchathewi District 2. Rama IX Road, MCOT Intersection, Huai Khwang District 3. Ratchadaphisek Road, in front of the Criminal Court, Chatuchak District 4. Chaeng Watthana Road, Bang Khen Roundabout, Bang Khen District 5. Lam Pha
k Chi Canal Dam, next to Ying Charoen Market, Bang Khen District 6. Chaeng Watthana
Government Complex, in front of Rat Prasasana Phakdi Building (Building B), Lak Si District 7. Road construction project connecting the 80th Birthday Anniversary Government Complex on December 5, 2007 with Prachachuen Road (Highway No. 10), Lak Si District and 8. Chaeng Watthana Road, Soi Chaeng Watthana 14, Bueng Si Kan Area, Lak Si District
For today’s highlight projects that have been completed and are ready to serve Bangkokians 100%, such as the Kaem Ling, Bang Khen Roundabout, to solve the problem of flooding on Chaeng Watthana Road, Soi 2, 4 (completed) with a water storage capacity of 6,000 cubic meters to temporarily store and store water during heavy rain because the area around Bang Khen Roundabout has a problem of flooding when heavy rain occurs on Phahon Yothin Road and Ram Intra Road. In addition, there is a running lane around the Kaem Ling area for the general public to use for exercise and relaxation.
?The a
rea around Bangkhen Roundabout is experiencing flooding problems when there is heavy rain on Phahonyothin Road and Ramintra Road because the existing drainage system is not sufficient to drain water. The Drainage and Sewerage Office has signed an MOU with the Department of Highways to request permission to use the area within the highway to build a flood retention area to alleviate the flooding problem in the area. The construction of a flood retention area with a water storage capacity of 6,000 cubic meters is to temporarily store and hold water during heavy rain on Phahonyothin Road and Ramintra Road and drain water into the Or Rang Kaew Canal and then into Khlong Bangkhen.
There is also a jogging track around the monkey cheek area for the general public to use for effective exercise and relaxation. The project is now 100% complete.
Another point that can solve the long-standing flooding problem is the water pumping pond on Rama 9 Road, Lam Rang Intersection, MCOT, Soi Thawi Mit, which is a private alley
lower than Rama 9 Road. When it rains heavily, there is often a problem of flooding waiting to be drained, affecting many residents and travelers in the area. The Drainage and Sewerage Department has therefore improved the water pumping pond to be a permanent water pumping pond to support the drainage system of the village community in Soi Thawi Mit, which has cooperated in developing its own drainage system to connect with the drainage system of Bangkok. It is considered a ‘prototype model’ in solving the flooding problem together between Bangkok and the private sector.
Two more projects that are nearing completion and ready for full operation by July 2024 are the 11th Military Police Canal Pumping Pond, which is surrounded by a densely populated urban community with many important government offices and hospitals. The original drainage pipes are not large enough, so a large drainage pipe construction project using the pipe jacking method and drainage channels was initiated. Despite many obstacles, it is no
w 90% complete and will be completed in July 2024. Similarly, the construction of the Ratchadaphisek
Road underpass and the plan to improve the efficiency of drainage, the construction of the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex water pumping pond at Khlong Bang Talat to solve the problem of flooding on Chaeng Watthana Road in front of the Government Complex, and the construction of Road No. 10 and the drainage system, O-Gutter drainage channels in the construction project of the road connecting the 80th Birthday Anniversary of the Government Complex on December 5, 2007 with Prachachuen Road will also be completed in July 2024.
Another area where problems are regularly found is the Chaeng Watthana Road area, Chaeng Watthana Soi 14, in the area of ??Bueng Si Kan. We have monitored the progress of the construction of the Bueng Si Kan flood retention basin to solve the flooding problem in Soi Chaeng Watthana 14 (10% progress, scheduled for completion in February 2025) (temporary system completed in August 2024).
?Soi Chaeng Watthana 14 is experiencing flooding problems in Soi Chaeng Watthana 14, especially in the areas of Muang Thong Niwet Village and Kaset Niwet Village, because the existing drainage system is insufficient to drain water. Originally, Bueng Si Kan was a private area with no water management system. The Drainage and Sewerage Office therefore carried out improvements to the Bueng Si Kan flood retention basin, increasing the efficiency of water intake in Bueng Si Kan by being able to manage it as a flood retention basin to accommodate excess water and store 150,000 cubic meters of rainwater in the flood retention basin, temporarily holding rainwater that falls on the area, and draining it into Khlong Bang Phut, Khlong Ta Uat, and Khlong Prem Prachakon. The area affected is approximately 1.63 sq.km, or approximately 1,200 households, covering Soi Chaeng Watthana 14, the area of ??Muang Thong Niwet Village, the area of ??Kaset Niwet Village, Chuen Chuen Village, Golden Town Village, Vibhavadi-Chaeng Watth
ana, Soi Kosum Ruamjai, and Wat Weluwanaram Road effectively. Currently under construction, 10% complete, expected to be completed by February 2025, with the temporary system for water supply and drainage from Bueng Si Kan to be operational by August 2024.
The Deputy Governor of Bangkok also revealed that the water situation in Bangkok in 2024, the overall picture at the moment, Bangkok has measured the amount of rainfall at the Drainage Office at 530.5 millimeters, which is about 20% less than the 30-year average (the 30-year average of the Drainage Office is 670.8 millimeters).
?In addition, the ENSO situation will change into La Nina during July to September 2024, which is likely to increase and will continue until February 2025, which will cause more rain in Thailand, including Bangkok. We must monitor and follow the weather forecast from the Meteorological Department, especially in August, September and October, where it is expected that there will be more rain.
In addition, Bangkok has also drained w
ater from various canals. Although Bangkok has to cope with the amount of rain, which has a chance of being very heavy in some areas, it must also be ready to manage the water from the north that will come. There are discussions and meetings every month with the Office of National Water Resources or NWC, which is the main water management agency.
‘All 8 projects submitted to Bangkokians today all have different problems. Some require negotiations with multiple parties, which takes a long time. Some need to deal with overlapping public utilities. Some areas do not belong to the BMA. Some projects work together with all sectors to create new integrated models. All of this has the main purpose of improving the structure, formats, methods, and innovations of the drainage system to solve problems for Bangkokians sustainably,’ said the Deputy Governor of Bangkok.
Source: Thai News Agency
