Roi-Et: The new capital of Thailand
A rather remarkable report in the newspapers last week, with The Nation leading the way, about a plea for a move from the capital of Thailand to a place in the northeast of Thailand.
Dr. Art-Ong Jumsai da Ayudhua, a former scientist at NASA, spoke at a seminar on climate change, natural disasters and the future of Bangkok, which he says is sinking further every year due to, among other things, rising sea levels.
He mentioned the increase in annual rainfall and also the rise in water in the dam lakes in 2010 and 2011 and said that the trend in 2012 and subsequent years only leads to worse prospects, with all the consequences that entails. According to him, authorities must act adequately in order to drain the excess water to the sea as efficiently as possible.
But to recommend moving the capital elsewhere is quite a decision. Unique in the world you would say, but is that really the case? No, throughout history, capitals of countries have changed places hundreds of times. The ancient Egyptians, Romans and Chinese did it for all sorts of reasons. In recent history, capitals have also changed locations very often, think of Brasilia in Brazil, Bonn went to Berlin, Malaysia transferred much of the government to Sri Jayawardena Kotte, the Laotian capital changed from Luang Prabang to Vientane, the Indonesian capital was changed to Jakarta after Yogyakarta and the list can easily be completed with dozens of other examples.
Some capitals are chosen because they are easy to defend in case of invasion or war. Others are chosen and/or built in previously underdeveloped areas to stimulate local economies. There are more reasons to change capital, think of a diplomatic choice in countries where there is a "fight" for the honor of a capital. That is why Washington was chosen as the capital in the United States and not Sydney or Melbourne, but Canberra in Australia.
The choice of Bangkok in 1792 was one of the first category. Thonburi was previously the capital of Ayutthaya on the western bank, strategically located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Dutch documents have shown that the incoming ships for Ayutthaya were checked for their cargo and had to hand in their guns for the duration of their stay in Siam. King Rama I moved the capital to the eastern bank because it was easier to defend against possible attacks from the north.
That reason is no longer valid in this modern age and with the aforementioned problems to be expected, it is not such a bad idea to move the capital. The recommendation of Dr. Art-Ong to move the capital of Thailand is therefore no exception worldwide. If one decides to do so, because it is expected that Bangkok will sooner or later be completely submerged, one should think of a location in an elevated area, somewhere in the 16 northeastern provinces.
I have only chosen Roi-Et in the middle of the Isaan. Not only does my wife come from there, but there will also be no conflict between, for example, Khon Kaen and Ubon Thani or other larger provinces. Such a move can take a lot of time.
Dr. Art-Ong mentions 20 years, but will also be good for the Northeast for economic reasons. Finally something concrete would be done about poverty and employment in that area. Think about all that needs to be done, new roads, new railways, airport, government buildings, housing and schools, etc. etc.
But yes, this is Thailand, so will it remain a dream or will it become reality?
I have come across the suggestion in posts to move the capital to Nakhon Nayok province, which is higher up.
The province of Saraburi and Nonthaburi have been suggested for the location of the new parliament building, now planned on the banks of the Chao Praya.
Before Thonburi, Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam. For a map, see: http://tinyurl.com/7ksxtvp
Udon Thani would be much better because
A there is already an international airport
B I might be able to sell my girlfriend's luxury house to some minister
this description of the house is with the rose colored glasses.
Roi Et also has an airport, although they don't call it 'international'. It sounds interesting, Udon Thani International Airport, but how many international flights actually land? I don't think any at the moment!
Previously, Lao Airlines flew between Luang Prabang and Udon for a short time, but they have also removed this flight a long time ago….
They already call themselves International Airport, how many foreign flights??. However, an old wrecking boeing has been parked for years for more honor and glory, I think Russian
A Boeing Hans? And then Russian? I think you know everything...
I hadn't finished my coffee yet, indeed not a logical combination, will take a closer look next time.
Yes, that box has been there for years. Isn't it an old device from One-Two-Go ??
Ah, Hans, with 12 crafts and 13 accidents you learn a bit everywhere..
Dick,
Well that will be quite a hassle.
To tear down the whole of Bangkok brick by brick and then rebuild somewhere else seems like one
impossible task. Or did I misunderstand you?
I came across the suggestion to move the capital to Nakhon Nayok in reports in Bangkok Post.
I don't know what exactly will move.
At least Government House, the seat of government, I presume and possibly ministries.
Costs a pretty penny, that's for sure.
Maybe Bangkok needs to flood a few more times before it is seriously talked about.
From the January 6 Bangkok Post:
Bangkok will be completely flooded in 50 years, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said at an environmental forum in Bangkok. The city has grown over the past half century without a systematic plan. That will be difficult to correct. Bangkok is also in an unfavorable location, 1 meter above mean sea level. According to one study, Bangkok is sinking 1 cm every year and the sea level in the Gulf of Thailand is rising by 1,3 cm per year.
Another recent example….Burma…..was once Yangon (Rangoon), now Naypyidaw…..
Incidentally, Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi to Rattanakosin in 1782 (not in 1792)…..typing error probably…..
I have also read previous suggestions about a possible move to Nakhon Nayok…. It will be quite a move for me if it ever comes to it.....
Fortunately, Bangkok is made of concrete and not of stone. Beautiful fish can then be bred in all those tower blocks until the concrete has rotted away. By the way, there are already the necessary “fishbowls” available (as the ob ab nuad massage houses are usually referred to) to start with.
It seems to me very likely that the capital will have to be moved in the long term. But before a decision is made after much deliberation, it will be 20 years later and I will no longer experience that.
Chris Hammer,
I think it would be best to build a dike around it. Dutch water specialists
can you give good advice here. After all, the Netherlands is below sea level and has
currently the same problems than Bangkok. NL is also affected by the rise in the
sea level and must raise its dikes.
Dear Jogchum,
Advice for managing the water problems has already been received many times from, among others, Dutch water specialists. But they are not followed up or the decision-making process takes years. Dredging advice, among other things, has invariably been ignored. In particular, the area around Ayuddhaya will soon be able to enjoy it again.
a real thai solution move the capital. if you see a problem you run from it. as if they have enough money here to rebuild all those government buildings etc.
developing an organized system with dikes etc. to keep Bangkok dry seems cheaper.
but yes, the problem is of course in the word “organized”!
@Jogchum, only a small part of the Netherlands is below sea level, and definitely does not have the same problems as Bangkok.
Bangkok also has to deal with a body of water from the interior during prolonged tropical showers, which must be drained to the sea.
Leo Bosch.
What a fantasy! Like moving Bangkok for a while. Building a new large airport somewhere, a sky train, many skyscrapers, an underground, entire neighborhoods, railway stations, highways etc etc.
Bangkok is only 1 meter above sea level. So what? Parts of the Netherlands have always been below sea level. People in Thailand should think carefully about their own created problem such as reservoirs, not dredging and not embanking problem cases and so on.
Comparisons of moving capitals in the past are also completely flawed. Either there was nothing like Burma before or it was so long ago that there was little to move.
Most bizarre in the article I find what to do with the old Bangkok and its inhabitants?
Fantasize further.
Hello Gringo,
Good idea !! I've been coming to Roi et for 4 years now because my girlfriend owns a coffee shop there.
It's a nice city, and I spend the winter there every year.
So if you visit family again, come and have a cup of coffee.
gr Cor
http://waarbenjij.nu/Tip/?Goedkoop+eten+%26+drinken/&module=home&page=tip&id=25393