Hundreds of Nonthaburi residents won their demand for all sluice gates along Khlong Maha Sawat to be opened wider to ease their flood misery during a rally at the provincial hall on Tuesday.
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| Two residents of flood-affected Nonthaburi province lose their temper during a meeting with the local administration yesterday over their demands for more effective flood drainage methods. |
The Nonthaburi provincial authority, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) agreed to the residents' demand after around 500 of them showed up to stage a noisy protest after weeks of heavy flooding in their communities.
The residents from Bang Bua Thong, Bang Yai, Bang Kruai, Sai Noi, Pak Kret and Muang districts had previously blockaded a road in front of the town hall on Rattanathibet Road on Sunday to protest what they said was officials' inaction over their flood ordeal.
They demanded in Tuesday's rally that all sluice gates on Khlong Maha Sawat be opened wider so the stagnant floodwater in their communities would be drained through Bangkok and out into the sea. Khlong Maha Sawat borders Nonthaburi and Bangkok.
The protesters were infuriated by televised comments by a senior government official on Monday night saying that the drainage of floodwater in their areas had been slow because they had weak local leaders and they did not band together to help themselves.
"Isn't it the duty of the government to provide pumps and other means to drain the water out of our homes?" said a protester from Buathong Residence housing estate who evacuated his home a month ago after it was flooded.
"Do we have to keep on paying room rent elsewhere because our homes are under water and stink so that areas in the capital can remain dry and clean?" said another protester from Bangrak Pattana sub-district.
Core protester representatives met for two hours with Nonthaburi governor Wichian Phutthiwinyu who angered the residents even more when he came down to read a letter from Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra responding to their demand.
MR Sukhumbhand said in his letter the BMA would open the sluice gates step by step from the present 50cm high to 70cm. They would be lifted higher after a two-day evaluation of the impact before being opened further to 1m.
The governor fled and disappeared from the scene for hours after the protesters vented their anger at his response, leaving Pheu Thai MP from Nonthaburi Chalong Riewraeng and Froc spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen to deal with the protest.
The governor and Froc spokesman later agreed to bring some 30 representatives of the protesters to witness the opening of all sluice gates as previously demanded by the residents.
Water Draining Committee chairman Veera Wongsaengnak told the Nonthaburi residents earlier at the meeting that more water pumps would be brought to the Bangyai and Bang Kruai areas.
In 10 days, with all local authorities and other agencies support, the water should be drained sufficiently to allow small cars to travel, he said.
Pol Col Thongchai Yenprasert, president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administration Organization, also told the meeting the province had to be divided up into sections for more practical draining operations.
Although the protesters have come up with a slogan of "Dry Nonthaburi by Dec 1", some residents appeared satisfied with the promise of less floodwater in 10 days.
Mrs Luen (last name withheld), 58, a furniture maker from Bangyai's Bang Maenang sub-district, said the promise was acceptable.
"At least they have promised something and are not leaving us in smelly water without telling us when we can restart our businesses or return to our normal lives," she said.
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