Actions threaten around big bag barrier
The so-called big bag barrier, a tidal wall built with 2,5 ton sandbags, is a nightmare for the residents of Don Muang. They have been struggling with flooding for three weeks and now want to know when it will come to an end. The embankment not only prevents their area from draining, but the residents cannot pass the embankment with their boats.
Resident representatives would meet on Sunday morning to discuss actions. They are looking at three options: blocking the Don Muang toll road, protesting on top of the embankment or at parliament.
According to reports, 80.000 people have signed a petition demanding the removal of the flood barrier. The local Pheu ภาษาไทยMP, however, says 10.000 people have signed. According to Thinnakorn Janya, representative of the residents of Yucharoen housing estate, it is not necessary to remove the entire wall. As far as they are concerned, small interruptions are sufficient to drain water from their neighbourhood.
The flood wall was built to slow down the flow of water towards the center of Bangkok. This gives the municipality enough time to drain water from the canals in Bangkok.
Pressure from the residents led the authorities to create a 2-meter hole, later enlarged to 6 meters, but the hole was closed again on Saturday. On the same day, in the presence of police and soldiers, residents removed sandbags with their bare hands, leaving another 6-meter hole.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra says the flood barrier is effective. He worries that some residents will tear him down.
Seri Supparathit, director of Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, says the municipality has sufficient capacity to pump out water and save the inner city, even if the hole in the flood wall is widened over its entire length. Seri has always proved to be a reliable predictor so far.
Consultation between residents, the Bangkok municipality and the government has resulted in the creation of a 10-meter opening. The additional inflow that this creates can be pumped out via channels in the river. The level north of the shore drops faster and residents can more easily travel from north to south and vice versa with their boats. Everyone a little more satisfied. Governor of Bangkok, Sukumban Boripat, calls the result of this tripartite consultation an example of how differences of opinion on these types of matters should be resolved in the future. That's nice.