Nonthaburi residents want City Hall to open the Khlong Maha Sawat sluice gates to allow floodwater to flow out of their areas although it may raise flood levels in Bangkok's Bang Phlat district.
About 1,000 people organised through Facebook gathered at the Nonthaburi provincial hall yesterday to submit their demand through Nonthaburi governor Wichien Puthiwinyu.
They met for talks to find solutions to the month-long flooding in Bang Bua Thong, Bang Kruai, Bang Yai and Pak Kret districts. The Khlong Maha Sawat sluice gates are located between tambon Plai Bang municipality in Bang Kruai and Bangkok.
The gates are overseen by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and remain closed as part of flood prevention measures for the capital.
The residents believe opening of the gates would ease flooding in Nonthaburi as floodwater could make its way out to Khlong Maha Sawat and canals in Bangkok.
In their view, this is another way to drain the water out of the province.
Although there are fears opening the gates may affect Bang Phlat district in Bangkok where water began to recede last week, Mr Wichien promised he would send a request to the Bangkok governor via the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc).
He told the residents they would get an answer by 1pm tomorrow.
Phue Thai MP for Nonthaburi Chalong Riewraeng, who was present during the talks, said if Bangkok does nothing, "we have to do it our own way".
Mr Wichien and Mr Chalong also promised to obtain 1,000 water pumps to speed up water drainage in Nonthaburi. They aim to reduce the water level by more than 20cm.
If the drainage goes as planned, residents, especially those in Bang Bua Thong, could return home by Dec 1.
However, those in Sai Noi district may need to wait longer because the area has been severely hit by floods.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut, who inspected the western side of the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani yesterday, assured flood victims their situation would improve as officials continue to repair damaged levees and use more pumps to drain water.
The Royal Irrigation Department has given 50 water pumps to the two provinces to ease their flooding.
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