Seven provinces threatened by flooding
The Yom River, the only river in Thailand without a dam, causes a lot of flooding in the province of Sukothai. The floodwaters are now also threatening seven counties in the Central Plains. The Chao Phraya River also poses a threat; the Chao Praya dam, which regulates the water level in those provinces, receives more water from the North. The water level is constantly rising.
In tambon Pak Keao (Muang, Sukothai) a dike has collapsed over a distance of 50 meters. As a result, 240 houses were flooded. The villagers, surprised by the water, have fled. Rescue workers and soldiers from Phitsanulok have moved to the village to help residents trapped in their homes. In some places the water is 2 meters high.
In addition to Muang, soldiers also provide aid in Si Samrong district. The residents of fifty houses hastily removed their belongings. Food is hoarded by many in grocery stores. The Pracha Uthit school has closed its doors and traffic is being affected by the flooded roads.
Five districts of Sukothai province have been declared a disaster area. The prospects are not very promising, because in the province of Phrae the rain is still pouring down from the sky and that water is causing a nuisance in Sukothai. In Phrae, a hill tribe village in Rong Kwang district was destroyed.
Since August 26, nine people have died as a result of the flooding. The last victim fell in Muang [province?] on Thursday evening. A 60-year-old man drowned while inspecting his maize field near the Yom River.
Authorities expect more than 50.000 houses in Ayutthaya province to be flooded when the Chao Phraya dam (Chai Nat) is forced to discharge more water due to the large amount of water coming in from the north. The dam discharged 792 cubic meters per second on Thursday and 1.100 yesterday; it is expected that the dam will have to discharge 1.800 cubic meters per second.
In three districts of Ayutthaya province, the Chao Phraya River has already flooded, flooding residential areas close to the river.
Farmers in Bang Pla Ma (Suphan Buri) and three districts in Ayutthaya are making every effort to drain excess water from their rice fields, but that is not easy, because one farmer says: 'There is water everywhere.'
(Source: Bangkok Post, Sept. 6, 2014)
Photos: Relief work in Si Samrong district (Sukothai).
What about the plans to tackle Thailand's water management?
Three years ago there were major floods in Thailand and even a large part of Bangkok was under water. It was world news. At that time there was support from the Netherlands by, among others, a hydraulic engineering expert, Mr. Eric Verwey.
After the disaster, Thailand would make plans to prevent excessive flooding like in 2011.
Then I understood that they wanted to tackle the problem not with the Netherlands, but with China. China would get the orders.
I then wonder why China, while the Netherlands is known worldwide for its leading expertise in hydraulic engineering. I have a feeling that ties to China and who washes which hand certainly played an influence.
But now 3 years later I have not yet seen any concrete plans and certainly no large-scale projects in progress.
Does anyone know the status?
@ Willem The last I wrote about it in News from Thailand dates back to August 20:
– The plans for water management, for which 350 billion baht is available, should be carefully drawn up to avoid the risk that they are 'disorganized and redundant' and lack a clear direction. Nipon Poapongsakorn, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute, issued that warning at a seminar on national water resources yesterday.
His remark has to do with the task that government departments have received from the NCPO to come up with ideas for water-related problems and to review some projects in the (controversial) billion-dollar plan.
The suggestions of various services are already coming in, but Nipon believes that the services must first agree on a common goal. They need to settle the differences in their proposals and provide clear direction. Furthermore, the private sector and the public should be encouraged to play their part.
So far, the public has only been able to speak at hearings, described by Nipon as 'mandatory ceremonies', set up to announce decisions that have already been made.
Other speakers at the seminar raised concerns such as uncertain weather patterns due to climate change, the risk of water shortages (which could cause companies to leave the country) and the need for a master plan.
The 350 billion baht water management plan was initiated by the Yingluck government after the 2011 floods. It includes the construction of water reservoirs and a canal. According to critics, it is poorly thought out and potentially harmful to the environment and population.
Asking Thai governments to come up with ideas and solutions to the water-related problems is asking for more problems. Very naive to assume that something as complicated as water management should be left to initiatives of inexperienced local authorities.
Is it Thai pride that makes them think they can solve it themselves?
Dear Willem, I share your concern. My name is Adri Verwey (not Eric) and I did provide support at FROC (Flood Relief and Operations Center) for 2011 weeks in 6. The plans made by the Yingluck government contain necessary components, such as a better balance between storage and drainage of water, and some of these will certainly have had negative sides. But that is inherent to the redesign of any water system. You rarely get a pure win-win situation. Studies were done in a short period of time and it could probably have been done better in some areas. The implementation has been suspended due to the political situation. However, various smaller-scale developments are underway in sub-areas, such as at the HAII institute. But this mainly concerns non-structural measures, such as improved information systems.
Even now, the lack of good information is playing out again. It worries me that there will be problems again at Ayutthaya. Although the chance of a repeat of the situation of 2011 is small, it cannot be ruled out. In 2011, most rain fell in September. I hope that the authorities in Thailand will closely monitor developments this time based on an understanding of all influences.
Between Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya, a distance of about 50 km, all roads along the Chao Phraya river have been renovated and a flood defense has been built after 2011.