The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) urgent project to improve drainage and to build a concrete flood wall from Nong Bon Canal to Makham Thet Canal, to link with Prawet Burirom Canal, has been approved at a meeting of the water resource management subcommittee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

The meeting also urged the city administration to submit the project to the National Water Resources Committee for budgetary allocation, so it can be implemented without delay.

The project also includes improvement of the water pumping system, electrical and garbage disposal systems and the water pumping station in Phra Khanong district.

The meeting said the BMA should accelerate its study of the drainage system in the eastern part of the capital, to correspond with projects of other state agencies, such as the Royal Irrigation Department’s improvement of the irrigation system on the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River and the water drainage system in Samrong Nua sub-district of Samut Prakan province, which will help to ease flood problems, said General Prawit.

The second-stage project considered by the meeting today (Friday) encompasses the improvement of the Phra Khanong water pumping station and the construction of concrete floods wall on canals connecting with Prawet Burirom Canal, to increase their capacity to drain of water out of various canals into the Chao Phraya River, said the deputy prime minister.

The second group of projects concerns the improvement of drainage system in areas adjoining Bangkok, such as buildinga water tunnel from Nong Bon swamp to Prawet Burirom Canal and the Lat Krabang sluice gate and the project to build a flood wall for Lam Pla Thiao Canal.

General Prawit said that the second group of projects and the urgent project of the BMA, when fully implemented, will help ease flooding in Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani provinces and Bangkok and will accommodate the expansion of urban areas beyond the Royally-initiated embankments, according to the committee.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service