Saturday 3 December 2011

PM: Most of flooded areas dry this month

Most of the flooded areas in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani are expected to turn dry this month except farmland in low-lying areas which may take longer than 30 days to completely drain water out, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in her regularly Saturday address to the people.

She said that in the areas east of Bangkok, main roads and commercial areas had returned to be usable.

However, floodwater which had inundated Lak Hok, Don Muang, Chaeng Wattana, and Lam Luk Ka areas must be completely pumped and drained out by the end of December.

Big bags forming flood barriers in many areas which were no longer necessary would be gradually removed with consent from the local people, she said.

Water in major canals west of Bangkok were nearly normal and no longer overflowing.

Therefore, main roads and commercial areas on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river were expected to be usable in one to two weeks from now. 

However, it might take two to three weeks to completely drain water out from some flooded areas in Phutthamonthon Sai 4, Phutthamonthon Sai 5, and Om Noy.

Major canals in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi were still overflowing. Water was expected to be drained into the Chao Phraya river more quickly next week when the tide is low, she said.

The Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) had coordinated with some agencies including the Royal Irrigation Department to install more water pumps to drain water out of Bang Bua Thong and Bang Yai areas so that Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi could be dry before the New Year.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit flood hit people in Ubon Ratchathani province today, and Ayutthaya tomorrow.

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