People Urged to Help Protect Flood Barriers

(04/11/2011)

People have been urged to help protect flood barriers and allow flood water to flow in a systematic manner in order to facilitate flood control. The call was made by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who visited flood victims and provided them with survival kits and food at Don Mueang and nearby areas on 3 November 2011. Speaking at the Flood Relief Operations Center at the Energy Complex, the Prime Minister stressed the need to step up the public relations campaign to create better understanding among local residents about the protection of flood barriers. She also called on members of the media to help in the campaign, as the destruction of embankments would lead to a stronger influx of water. The Prime Minister expressed sympathy for those who were suffering from stagnant water, saying that the removing of dykes and barriers in their areas would not minimize the volume of water. Instead, it would simply spread the flood water to a wider area and cause more harm. She said that the Government had come up with recovery plans and that affected residents would be provided with compensation. More rehabilitation measures would be announced soon. The Prime Minister also instructed all provincial governors to explain the situation to local people, saying that drastic measures might have to be adopted to protect flood barriers in order to reduce further damage. According to the Prime Minister, the latest assessment by the Flood Relief Operations Center shows that the run-off from the North heading toward Bangkok is likely to be less massive than expected because barriers have been put in place to hold up the flow. The “Big Bag” embankment, with large sandbags, along the Local Road in Rangsit has been set up for flood control. The embankment would reduce the water level in the Don Mueang area and facilitate water drainage. She said that breached dykes in the west side of the Chao Phraya River were being repaired and that the repair work would be completed by November 13. Prime Minister Yingluck said that she would bring up His Majesty the King’s advice on floodways for discussion with the authorities concerned. In the initial stage, she said, damaged roads would be repaired to enable people to travel more freely. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was instructed to help treat wastewater resulting from stagnant water. The Flood Relief Operations Center reported that the Royal Thai Army and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority have provided special bus and boat services for people in flooded areas in Bangkok. It said that flood water in Nakhon Sawan province has subsided, and the province has set November 5 as “Big Cleaning Day” for local residents to join hands in cleaning the province. The Transport Company is also providing bus services for all routes.