Inner Bangkok will stay dry, PM says

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reassured yesterday that inner Bangkok would be not be flooded, while the government would speed up the process of compensating victims.

The country's post-flood rehabilitation plan had also boosted international confidence in Thailand, Yingluck said in her weekly radio programme, delivered by phone from Bali, where she was attending the Asean Summit.

Yingluck also thanked various countries for providing assistance to Thailand and urged greater cooperation from Asean in tackling disaster and water management, pointing out that many Asean countries suffered from floods.

She said Asean leaders had agreed, saying Thailand's initiative could pave the way for a disaster-operations cen?tre for Asean. Yingluck also thanked various countries including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China and the US for their concern and help.

Yingluck said the government would implement a one-year rehabilitation plan from October 2011 to September 2012, as well as long-term measures, to be overseen by the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) and the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM).

She said the government agreed with the guidelines established by Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chai Pattana Foundation and SCWRM adviser, comprising four strategies: 

rehabilitating water sources and reforestation; finding natural water-retention sources through such activities as dredging canals and preserving "monkey cheek" catchment areas; reviewing and reviving royal initiatives includ?ing the building of a floodway; and reviewing data-collecting methods and existing research.

Yingluck said the flood situation had improved and that inner Bangkok would surely be spared from floods, as the northern runoff was being channelled into the Bang Sue Canal, away from Victory Monument, Pathumwan, Sukhumvit and Silom. 

As for western Bangkok, drainage of water into the Tha Chin River and the sea could be done at 63 million cubic metres per day, she said, while water in other provinces was subsiding.

She urged infrastructure rehabil?itation to proceed quickly so that life could return to normal in 45 days. She said the government had ordered each affected province to speedily implement remedial measures for relatives of those who died and whose homes were damaged. 

The premier said farmers would be given a three-year grace period for debt repayments. The plan would be open to farmers owing less than Bt500,000. It started registering participants five days ago.

Brace for the Big Scrub

Welcome your house back from its underwater adventure with a refreshing blast of chlorine

I've volunteered to help in various ways during the flood crisis, but it wasn't until I read about someone contracting osteoporosis while cleaning their salvaged house that I realised my personal experience could be put to use.

I inherited my parents' cleaning business and, having provided the service to many corporations, I knew my information could be useful for others affected by the calamity. 

So I started writing a blog - a guide to safely cleaning up buildings after the flood recedes. What follows are a few of the best tips.

Cleaning up after a flood is obviously far tougher than normal household chores, requiring a lot of time and energy. Don't expect your house to be shiny again in a matter of days.

Before beginning your major post-flood makeover, check the electrical system thoroughly. Switch off the main power and have a technician hunt for possible leaks and damage. 

You might have to replace wiring and sockets, and this could take days, but it's crucial for safety.

The next important chores are to get rid of any residual floodwater and kill off all the germs and fungus, which can cause serious health problems. You don't want to live in a house where germs have been left to go on incubating.

Once the power is up and running again, get equipped for the big cleanup. Wear latex gloves, boots and a mask at all times to protect against those germs and mould and also high-power bleaches and cleansing chemicals.

Keep a fan blowing the fumes out while you work but leave the air conditioner alone until your whole property is squeaky-clean. The air con might not be damaged, but it would suck bacteria into the filter, where they'd breed the next generation.

Whatever has fungus growing on it that's moveable, drag it outside to either clean it or get rid of it. Throw away what you can - incinerate it if that's possible.

If there's mould on the walls, floors or any furniture that's too big to shift, try and get it off with a vacuum cleaner or high-power water hose.

Empty the house as much as possible and clean the floors first. Hose them down thoroughly and scrape then with wooden mop.

Attack the fungus with 1cc of chlorine mixed in a litre of water. Spray the solution all over the place before scrubbing with floor polish. Then pour boiling water on the floor.

To get rid of grease, stubborn stains and smells, use a potion made with organic enzymes. It prevents dampness from lingering after the cleaning, and the effects can last up to six months.

You'll need to replace the flooring, especially vinyl, carpeting or parquet. First, though, lift the flooring up to dry the space beneath it. This could take a while, but it has to be completely dry.

Throw away carpeting. In most cases it's not worth the outrageous professional cleaning fee. If you have some expensive rugs you must keep, dry them in the sun before taking them to the cleaners.

Sorry, but that wallpaper also has to go.

If any electrical appliances spent time in the water, dry them in the sun and have a technician inspect them before you even think about plugging them in.

Items made of glass, plastic and melamine can be cleaned in a gallon of water containing two tablespoons of chlorine. Soak them for 10 minutes, then dry carefully. Then clean them again with dishwashing detergent.

Chlorine should not be used on metals, including silver, because it might discolour the surface. Boil metal items for 10 minutes to kill off germs and clean them with dishwashing soap.

Built-in furniture should be cleaned thoroughly with chlorine and water. Make sure the cupboards and closets are completely dry before putting your belongings back.

Other moveable furniture - like beds, drawers and latex mattresses - should be cleaned in the open air with chlorine. Dry them thoroughly too.

Furniture made of softwood isn't really worth salvaging, but if it's sterner, harder wood such as teak, it can be successfully restored. Reupholster cushioned sofas and seats once the frames are cleaned and dried.

Clothes pulled from the floodwater must be immediately washed in hot water and dried in the sunshine.

Soaked paper documents, photographs and books should be rinsed well, put in plastic bags and placed in the freezer to prevent the paper from sticking together. 

When you have time, clean them slowly, one by one: let the frozen pages thaw and dab them with a clean cloth. You might need professional help in some cases.

Throw away wet mattresses, pillows and stuffed dolls. Please don't donate them to charity!

Kamolpan is an assistant managing director at Far East Peerless (Thailand) 1968.

Her blog in Thai is at www.iUrban.in.th/highlight/cleanhouseafterflooding.

NEED HELP?

>> The Engineering Institute of Thailand has 150 engineers who have volunteered to check flood victims' house structure, electrical system and waterworks. Leave your name, address and phone number at (080) 812 3733, (080) 812 3743 or (080) 812 2853 between 9am and 5pm. Other engineers who want to volunteer can call (02) 184 4600-9.

>> Engineers at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority have volunteered to provide advice on electrical safety. Call (02) 256 3222 or visit www. MEA.or.th.

Feuding residents reach compromise

Phrayasuren gate to be opened further; Lam Lukka residents to be compensated

Feuding residents of Pathum Thani's Lam Lukka and Bangkok's Sai Mai districts yesterday reached an agreement that the Phrayasuren sluice gate and two other gates would be opened wider and an additional Bt5,000 compensation paid to affected Lam Lukka residents by the end of November.

The two-hour negotiation between the residents, the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ended with a promise by Lam Lukka residents not to damage sandbag embankments any further. 

Besides the Phrayasuren sluice gate, which was already opened to one meter, two others would be opened wider: the Khlong Song gate would be opened to 1.2 metres and the Khlong Mor Taek sluice gate would be opened to 50cm, Sukhumbhand said.

He said the three sluice gate openings shouldn't affect the Bang Chan Industrial Estate but might slow down the flow of water at Khlong Bang Bua and Khlong Lat Phrao, delaying the completion of drainage via the two canals by a week.

At the negotiation, the residents were told that, besides the additional Bt5,000 compensation to be paid to the first batch of affected residents by the end of November, those whose houses were partially damaged would get up to Bt20,000 assistance and those whose houses had been more badly affected would get Bt30,000.

Residents appeared content on being told that the flood water should be visibly lower in three days.

The Bang Chan Industrial Estate was on alert for flooding as the road in front of it from Bang Chan Intersection towards Min Buri was under 10cm-40cm of flood water. Sai Mai district office yesterday invited flood victims to register for Bt5,000 flood assistance until Wednesday.

Rangsit-Don Muang residents said yesterday that flood water in their homes had lowered by 20cm-30cm after the partial opening of the "Big Bag" embankment on Vibhavadi Road, and said they wouldn't tear down any more embankments. 

Rangsit Market residents laid 20,000 sandbags and installed water pumps to drain the marketplace yesterday, expecting the water to be gone by Monday, allowing a clean-up. 

It was also initially agreed among residents that priority for drainage and cleaning would be given to Rangsit Market, Tiratpornpat Market and Suchat Marketas the 200-year anniversary Rattanakosin Housing Estate.

FROC spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said the "Big Bag" embankment's partial opening hadn't affected inner Bangkok because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had drained water to the point that the water on either side was of the wall was at a similar level. Therefore, he believed there would no problem turning the "Big Bag" embankment into a weir.

He said people living upstream of the embankment - including those in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong area - only wanted some flood water to be drained out. He said FROC would look for ways to drain the trapped floodwater and assess the upstream residents' problems.

In the meantime, the premier's water committee adviser Uthen Chatpinyo said he had inspected the Khlong Phasee Charoen and Khlong Sukhot sluice gates and their connected canals on Friday, and had met with Samut Sakhon Governor Apichat 

Todilokvej. They agreed that the Tha Chin River's Khlong Lad Ngew Lai, Khlong Lad Thakha and Khlong Lad Nang Thaen should be dredged so flood water would pass through faster.

The connecting Khlong Sukhot, Khlong Bang Toei and Khlong Sam Baht would be dredged and more water-pushing devices would be installed at Khlong Maha Sawat and Khlong Phasee Charoen, he said,

adding that two or three water pumps should be borrowed from Khlong Maha Sawat sluice gate to drain water into the Tha Chin River more quickly. He said this would help bring the flood crisis in Western Bangkok to an end in 15-20 days.

Meanwhile, BMA Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra had 40 water pumps installed at western Bangkok pumping stations to drain water out of the Thon Buri side of Bangkok into four main canals leading to the Tha Chin River. 

Water levels in Thon Buri's canals remain high and some 5 million cubic metres of water continue to pour into the area on a daily basis.

Ten more pumps were installed at Phra Khanong pumping station and three more placed at Thewet station. The BMA would also open Khlong Maha Sawat sluice gate 50cm wider, Sukhumbhand said. 

He added that the BMA needed to build permanent embankments along Khlong Maha Sawat on the Bangkok side to prevent floods in the future.

The governor urged the government and Nonthaburi province to consider building permanent embankments along their side of Khlong Maha Sawat. He said the BMA didn't want Nonthaburi residents to take the brunt of flooding for Bangkok. 

Sukhumbhand reported that the BMA was collecting 3,513 tons of garbage per day from 25 flood-affected districts - 73 per cent of the usual level of 4,313 tons - although Don Muang district saw only 30 per cent of garbage collected due to the severity of the situation there.

Plain sailing as Keerati, Ek, Navin and Siriporn take gold

Thai sailors clinched four gold medals out of the possible nine in the sailing competition of the SEA Games in Indonesia yesterday.

At Ancol Marina in Jakarta, teenager Keerati Bualong, who hails from Nakhon Pathom and who produced consistent performance throughout, won the last two races to claim the title in the men's Laser Class Radial division.

Keerati, the 19-year-old, never finished outside the top two in nine out of 10 races, which saw him finish with a nine-point win over Malaysia' Mohd Romzi Mohamad. Choo Jian Jie of Singapore completed the podium.

Fourteen-year-old Sarawut Phetsiri and a 15-year-old girl Kamolwan Chanyim had to settle for the runners-up spot in the Optimist Class Open and women's Laser Class Radial divisions respectively.

The Chon Buri native, Sarawut, had to play second fiddle to Singapore's Elisa Yukie, who finished first in all but one race, throughout the contest. Ahmad Syukri of Malaysia claimed the bronze.

However, it was a close duel between Kamolwan and Chan Jing Hua of Singapore, who recovered from a disqualification in the first race before edging the Thai to the gold medal by a five-point margin. Malaysia's Nur Amirah Binti ended up in the third spot.

Singaporean duo Liu Xiaodan and Tan Li Ching produced a near blemish free record by winning all but one out of 10 races on their way to the title in women's International 470 Class, leaving Thai pair Narisara Yusawat and Yupa Suwannawat content with only the bronze.

Thailand scored a hat-trick of gold medals in windsurfing event, with Navin Singsrart's triumph in the men's Mistral OD Man division the most impressive one.

Trailing behind favourite Oka Sulaksana of Indonesia after three days of racing, Navin saved his best for the last by winning the final two races, which drew him level on points with the veteran Indonesian.

With the two finishing either first or second in identical numbers, the race was decided on the result of the final round and the title went to the 23-year-old Thai.

Thailand made a clean sweep in the RSX division, with Ek Boonsawad, who led the way from the opening day, and a 17-year-old girl Siriporn Kaewduang-ngam being crowned in men's and women's categories respectively.

Bangkok will clean before New Year

All flood-hit areas in the capital will be cleaned up within December 31 to give as a New Year present to Bangkokians, Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Saturday.

Mr Sukhumbhand said this after jointly chaired an activity to open the “Big Cleaning Day” event at Lat Phrao intersection on Phahon Yothin road with Army Region 1 commander Lt Gen Udomdej Sitabutr.

The event was held after the floodwater at the main intersection in inner Bangkok had receded.

“Lat Phrao intersection was inundated for several days and after the water receded, a large number of sludge and debris were left behind. The cleaning up day is organized to give back cleanness to Phahon Yothin road”, said Bangkok governor.

The cleaning up activity will be held in other areas after the floodwater has receded to make Bangkok clean before the coming New Year festival, he added.

Flood death toll rises to 594

A total of 595 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated many provinces for more than three months, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.

The floods still prevail in 18 provinces, affecting 1,921,263 households, the department said.

The provinces are Nakhon Sawan, Chainat, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Kalasin, Chechoengsao, Nakhon Nayok and Bangkok.

The department on Friday, Nov 18, reported the death toll at 594.

Floods can't stop all the fun of the fair

One of the rare cheerful pieces of news recently is that despite the flood woes and a late change of venue, the annual Ploenchit Fair is going ahead next Saturday at Bangkok Patana School on Sukhumvit Soi 105 (La Salle).

It is now 10 years since the fair moved from its traditional home at the British Embassy. The location may have changed, but the spirit certainly hasn't. I always enjoy the day, what I remember of it anyway.

That the fair functions is thanks to some hard work behind the scenes by Carolyn Tarrant and her team of volunteers connected to the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy.

Apart from raising money for charity, the fair serves a number of practical functions.

Crutch feels obliged to put in an appearance just to show people that the old fossil is still in the land of the living, although admittedly looking a little bit the worse for wear these days. It is also an opportunity to meet other old fossils I haven't seen for years.

In fact it may be the biggest fossil gathering of the year.

Going bananas

My favourite Ploenchit Fair tale goes back to the late 1980s when it was still in the embassy grounds. A British resident thought that hiring a couple of elephants to pose with the kiddies for photographs while they fed the creatures with bananas would be a big hit. Well, it seemed a good idea at the time.

When the great day arrived the elephants were there on time, as was a truckload of bananas purchased to keep the pachyderms happy.

Unfortunately, when the kiddies began feeding the elephants, it soon became clear that something was wrong. Presumably they weren't the right type of bananas, 

because after a few mouthfuls the elephants began making strange noises, spitting out most of what had been proffered. The poor animals then began suffering major ''stomach upsets'', sending everyone scampering for cover.

It quickly became evident that the photographer couldn't carry on as the elephants were leaving a trail of unsightly deposits on the hallowed lawns of the embassy. So it was reluctantly decided to relieve the animals of their duties.

This was little consolation to the British fellow in charge of proceedings who now found himself with vast quantities of dubious bananas. By all accounts he developed a taste for banana fritters for the next few weeks.

Written off

One year Crutch was assigned to a booth at the fair to try and sell a few copies of the first ''PostScript'' book. I must confess to not relishing the prospect, envisaging myself sitting there like a complete idiot surrounded by unsold books, totally ignored by the passing throng _ which was exactly what happened.

However, a charming lady saved the day, by saying I looked younger than my photograph _ goodness knows what photo she had seen. I hope she wasn't referring to the one gracing the present column.

Matters then totally got out of hand when esteemed author James Eckardt rolled up to promote his first book, Waylaid By The Bimbos. Crowds of fairgoers suddenly converged on our stall, eagerly devouring Eckardt's book and totally ignoring mine.

Tattooed lady

The first fairs I ever attended were in a meadow by the River Thames. My home town was not exactly the liveliest place in the world, so the travelling fair briefly became the centre of the universe for all self-respecting schoolboys. 

My parents hated me going to the fair as they felt it attracted the wrong sort of people _ and they were absolutely right. The word ''seedy'' springs to mind and there were all sorts of weird characters lurking around _ but of course that's precisely what made it attractive.

One of the main attractions was the Tattooed Lady _ a sign of the times, as these days ladies with tattoos are unfortunately a relatively common sight. But in the mid-1960s tattoos were regarded as a bit weird, restricted to sailors and eccentrics.

I remember paying sixpence for the privilege of seeing a plump lady wearing bright red lipstick, covered from head to foot in tattoos. She looked quite hideous and I had nightmares for an entire week.

Belly dancing and bagpipes

Tattoos seem to be quite fashionable these days, although I can't fathom out why. Journalist Liz Jones is definitely not a fan of what she calls ''tramp stamps''.

In a Daily Mail article last year she referred to tattoos as ''the most tasteless, tacky, tawdry, terrible plague to infect Britain since mad cow disease''.

However, over the years some famous people have sported tattoos.

Sir Winston Churchill had a tattoo of an anchor on his arm, but he was the First Lord of the Admiralty, so we'll let him off. Even actress Angelia Jolie had a large tiger tattooed on her back while she was in Thailand.

There won't be a Tattooed Lady show at the Ploenchit Fair, but they've got some belly dancing and bagpipes, hopefully not at the same time. 

The fair takes place from 10am-9pm and it's all for a good cause, this year raising money for flood victims. The beer definitely slides down better when you know it's for charity.

Drug problem, Stop calling, Flood ordeal, Slow loss, Dome's belle

A Thai/farang model and his girlfriend have been charged with possession of the illicit drug ketamine after fleeing a police checkpoint in Huai Khwang.

Sam Chotiban (aka Samuel Burns), 29, and his girlfriend Kanyarat Sawangphong, were caught by police on Monday night after running a police checkpoint.

Officers gave chase and noticed one of the vehicles' occupants tossing a bag from the vehicle.

They retrieved the bag, and caught the couple at another checkpoint.

Huai Khwang police say they found a bag of powdered ketamine weighing .2g, worth about 500 baht and equipment for taking the drug in the woman's shoulder bag.

Reports say the couple denied the drug was theirs, claiming the bag belonged to a woman friend whom they had just taken home in the Rama IX Road area.

They were returning to their own home in Ratchadaphisek Soi 18 when they noticed the woman had left her bag in the car.

They fled the checkpoint because they believed the bag could have contained an illegal substance.

Police took the couple for urine tests, which were negative for the presence of drugs.

Sam, who denies taking the drug, spent the night in jail. Police took them to the Ratchada court the following day and asked for permission to detain them further.

The court agreed, but later in the day relatives posted bail of 10,000 baht each, and the couple was released.

The lady's not for sale

Former Miss Universe Thailand Gavintra "Gam" Photijak has a new group of admirers after someone posted her phone number on a porn website, claiming she was up for selling her body.

The Siam Dara gossip rag said the first Gam knew about the posting was when someone claiming to have studied at university with her called to ask if it was true she was available for sex, or whether someone was just trying to harass her.

"Since then, more than 1,000 people have called, many asking how much I charge for sex, and some offering to take care of me and pay whatever price I demand," she said, adding her body was not for sale.

"I'm receiving so many calls that I'm now scared to answer the phone if I don't recognise the number," she said.

She suspected someone she knows is behind the posting, and she is gathering evidence to file a police complaint.

Grisly memories

Singer and actor Pongsak "Aof" Rattanapong says memories of a snake, as well as the body of a 20-year-old man that floated past his parents' inundated home, will stay with him long after this year's floods have drained away.

Aof lives in the Ram Intra area, while his parents live in Bang Bua Thong.

While his Ram Intra place was spared, floodwaters at his family home in Bang Bua Thong reached thigh level.

"I couldn't reach their place, but I called every day," he said.

"One day my mother sounded alarmed.

"A body of a young man, aged about 20, had floated past our place, and became entangled by the side of the house.

"Mum alerted authorities, but I was too scared to visit immediately myself," he said.

Authorities travelled by boat to collect the body the next day.

Shortly after, Aof was able to visit, and stayed the next three days, during which he also came across a snake uprooted by the floods.

"I fell asleep easily, as the body had been removed. However, on my first night we found a snake," he said.

"We were so scared we forgot all about the dead man," he said.

A weighty task

An actor whose nickname means "fat" in English has plumped up for his first Hollywood role, but finds shedding the weight again much harder.

Actor and model Wattana "Uab Uan" Chumsai na Ayuthaya, 16, is looking chubbier since the producers of a Hollywood B-movie in which he appeared recently asked him to put on 12kg for the role.

"I play a sidekick to Prinya "Way" Intachai, from the band Thaitanium. I am supposed to be a little chubby and awkward-looking," said Uan.

"Shooting has finished, and my entertainment label Polyplus has asked me to lose the weight again, which I am doing by hitting the gym.

"However, I find that putting the weight on was much easier than taking it off," he said.

His new, bigger appearance has led to a drop in modelling and runway work, as clients prefer the meaner look.

However, he is trying to look on the positive side.

"Even though it was a B-movie, it is my first time working in a Hollywood-style production.

"It's like an investment in myself, which could lead to bigger things in future," said Uab Uan.

Dome's new friend

Actor and DJ Pakorn "Dome" Lum doesn't hold back when singing the praises his new love interest, whom he discussed with reporters for the first time last week.

Dome, a notorious ladies' man who is launching his first solo album in 10 years, says university student and TV presenter Jirantanin "Kusjung" Pitakporntrakul, whom he met through a friend, is "smart, pretty, hard-working, cute and well-behaved".

"We are getting to know each other, and have been talking a while now," he said, while wondering if he wasn't rushing his hand by declaring they were an item.

Kasjung has yet to make a public appearance with Dome, though the pair has been spotted shopping.

Dome says he is still friends with the girl he was seeing until last September, student Paranat "Paint" Phatchu.

He said the pair parted ways because he was too busy to do justice to the relationship.

Paint was less than effusive about Dome before they broke up, leaving a series of unhappy messages on Facebook, including one in which she accused him of lying.

Dome denied Paint ended their relationship because she caught him cheating.

Inner city spared from floods, says Yingluck

Inner Bangkok has been saved from the floods, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

"It's certain the inner zone of Bangkok will be safe from floods, as the measures to hold floodwaters have been successful," 

Ms Yingluck said in the Yingluck Government Meets the People programme from Bali, Indonesia, where she attended the Asean Summit.

The government's Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) was able to block floodwater along the Bang Sue canal.

As a result, the floods would not reach inner Bangkok, including the Victory Monument, Pathumwan, Sukhumvit and Silom.

For areas to the west of the Chao Phraya, floodwaters in the northern parts of districts such as Bang Phlat, Bangkok Noi, Taling Chan, Bang Kae, Phutthamonthon, Bang Kruai and Nakhon Chaisi have already subsided, she said.

The Royal Irrigation Department was able to drain about 63 million cubic metres of floodwater a day from the western side of the Chao Phraya, Ms Yingluck said.

Flood levels in the western districts would gradually reduce.

Disputes between flood-hit residents in areas above and below the big-bag barrier and floodwall along the Bangkok-Pathum Thani border in Don Muang and Sai Mai districts had been settled through negotiations.

Authorities had agreed to accept some of the residents' demands while trying to stick to their flood relief plan, a major component of which is protecting Bangkok's economic areas.

Road transport links to the South were unlikely to be cut by floods, as the danger of flooding on Rama II Road, the main route to the region, had largely passed. 

Even if Rama II Road was flooded, it would not be serious, said the prime minister.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had installed 26 more water pumps at various pumping stations to drain floodwater out of the capital through Thawi Watthana, Phasi Charoen, Mahachai-Sanam Chai canals and the Tha Chin River. 

The BMA would install 14 additional water pumps to accelerate the draining, he said.

MR Sukhumbhand added the BMA would widen the sluice gate of the Thawi Watthana canal by another 50cm to speed up drainage.

The BMA would have to build permanent floodwalls along the Mahasawat canal to prevent future flooding from the North, he said. 

The government should also consider building barriers along the Mahasawat canal in Nonthaburi province as well.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that almost two million households in 18 provinces in the Central Plains and the Northeast are still affected by floods. 

Since July 25, 595 people have been killed in the floods, and two are missing.

The beasts which lie in wait Fisheries staff leave the paperwork behind for a night out crocodile hunting, after floods result in many of the beasts breaking free

Bundit Kullayavanijaya shines a flashlight over floodwaters near a housing estate in the Hathairat area, looking for red spots in the water.

Mr Bundit has made many boat trips in the past week, but has yet to find his prey.

He can't detect any crocodile eyes in the water, even with the aid of his flashlight, and Mr Bundit has no idea how many more nights he will have to leave the safety of his home to venture out over the floodwaters in search of them.

At Hathairat, Mr Bundit and his team lay a 100m long net in the water in the hope it will block the path of crocodiles which they believe may have escaped in the area. 

They want to catch them before they wash up on some street _ or even in someone's home.

"It's a tiring mission. Catching crocodiles is difficult," said Mr Bundit.

For over a month, Mr Bundit, chief of the Lat Krabang Fishery Inspection Office, has left the paperwork of his office behind, and turned himself into a crocodile hunter.

Since floodwaters from the North arrived in the Central Plains, reports of crocodiles fleeing from farms and private properties have surged, prompting officials from the Fisheries Department to head into the floodwaters in search of them.

They have been able to catch 11 crocodiles.

Since the floods began, some have even surfaced in Bangkok, though no injuries have been reported. Crocodiles caught by fisheries officials are kept at fisheries centres in Chon Butri and Suphan Buri until staff decide what to do with them.

Given the lax regulations which officials admit prevail over the way crocodiles are raised, the public is probably lucky that no one has been bitten by crocodiles hiding in the floodwaters, as officials have no idea how many may be on the loose, or where they may be lying in wait.

Crocodiles are listed as protected wildlife animal under the Wildlife Reservation and Protection Act of 1992, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international law aimed at protecting wildlife and controlling their trade.

Farmers who want to raise crocodiles must ask for a permit from the department. They must have a safe compound, with a wall 1.2m to 1.5m high, mark the crocodiles so they can be identified, and report any changes in the crocodile population.

Those wanting to export crocodiles must also register their farms with the CITES office. About 900 crocodile farms have been registered with the department. 

Another 22 large farms have been registered with the CITES office, to export crocodiles. They are raising about 500,000 crocodiles, according to the department's estimate.

Since the flooding hit the Central Plains, the department has received a confirmed report that crocodiles have escaped from at least one farm in Uthai Thani. A tree fell on part of the farm compound, and a wall broke. Crocodiles were able to escape.

The department has also received unconfirmed reports that crocodiles have escaped from several farms in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi.

The growth of commercial crocodile farming makes it hard for officials to come up with accurate estimates of the number of crocodiles which may be on the loose.

Some owners fail to mark the crocodiles properly, or fail to report new births and deaths.

A senior fisheries official working in commercial crocodile farming and export permit approval admits crocodile farms are inspected irregularly.

''Authority to oversee crocodile farming lies with provincial offices, and we don't have regular inspections. It's mostly up to farm owners to report any changes in their crocodile populations,'' he said.

Many more individuals raise crocodiles as pets. They must comply with the same reporting requirements as big farm owners.

Several of the crocodiles which have escaped in the floods are thought to belong to individual crocodile raisers.

Owners face lax penalties if their crocodiles escape their compounds. They receive warnings and at most may have their permits revoked.

Those found without a permit to raise crocodiles can be jailed up to four years and fined up to 40,000 baht. A crocodile owner whose beast escapes and hurts someone could be charged with a criminal offence.

Fishery officials admit it is difficult to detect illegal crocodile farming. Staff have unconfirmed reports that illegal farms have been established, including some on the outskirts of Bangkok.

About a week ago, officials learned that not only are native crocodiles lurking in the floodwaters, but also foreign animals. In one housing estate in the Ram Intra area, a crocodile rescue team caught a 1 metre-long crocodile of a non-native species in a house.

No laws are in place to regulate the way non-native crocodiles are raised.

Parntep Ratanakorn, a veterinarian who represents the Crocodile Management Association of Thailand, said the escapes of crocodiles during the floods has demonstrated weaknesses in crocodile farming management.

The law and the way it is enforced should be improved to ensure public safety, he said.

Floodways key to keeping capital safe NEXT CITY PLAN CREATES DRAINAGE ZONES IN EAST, WEST

The planned designation of floodway zones in eastern and western Bangkok will help safeguard the capital from any major deluge in the future, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration says.

Bangkok's city plan expires this year. City Hall is in the process of getting ready to declare a new plan and has conducted three rounds of public hearings.

A key feature is the creation of floodway zones in two parts of the city, where development will be limited. The main focus will be on making use of that land as a drainage area, which should ensure speedy drainage of floodwater through those areas to the sea.

After consultations are completed, City Hall will revise the draft and put it up for 90-day public review.

The new Bangkok city plan is expected to go into effect next year.

Under the draft plan, which has been posted for public review on the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) website, parts of Khlong Sam Wa and Min Buri districts have been declared areas to be preserved for water drainage.

On the western side, some parts of Taling Chan and Bang Kae districts have also been designated as water drainage zones.

Khunpol Prompaet, deputy director of the City Planning Department, said eastern Bangkok's location makes it suitable to be used as a floodway to quickly drain water out to the sea.

Many new communities and structures have been established in the area. While the plan can do nothing about buildings already there, the zones will control future development in those areas, ensuring buildings will not hamper the flow of water into the sea, Mr Khunpol said.

He said Bangkok grows horizontally rather than vertically, leading to high demand for land.

"We will limit the city's fatness. This means we will limit horizontal growth and promote vertical growth so we can preserve what vacant space there is for floodways," he said.

Under the city plan, the eastern part of Bangkok would become less dense with more vertical housing projects, such as condominiums, than horizontal ones.

Certain areas would be designated as water drainage routes.

The western part of the capital would largely remain a green area designated for agricultural purposes with vertical communities located along the electric train lines, he said.

Residents, Authorities reach flood barrier agreement

The ongoing dispute between flood-hit residents and authorities over the Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier ended yesterday with residents agreeing to not breach the dyke and authorities promising to widen three sluice gates.

After 90 minutes of negotiations between residents from Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district, the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) and City Hall, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra reported fruitful results.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to all of the residents' demands, including to keep the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate open by one metre, to widen the Khlong Lam Mo Taek sluice gate from 20cm to 50cm and to widen the Khlong Song sluice gate from one metre to 1.2m, said MR Sukhumbhand.

The Froc and the BMA also promised to lower flood levels in Lam Luk Ka district between three and five centimetres per day, he said.

Although it ruled out the risk of Bangchan Industrial Estate in Bangkok's Min Buri district being flooded as a result of its concessions yesterday, the BMA would still have to closely monitor flood levels in downstream canals, the governor said.

Any rise in flood water volume would slow down water drainage in Khlong Bang Bua and Khlong Lat Phrao and surrounding areas which were still inundated, he said.

To mitigate the impact of that on affected communities, the BMA would increase the number of water pumps draining floodwaters out of residential areas into the canals, he said.

More than a thousand Lam Luk Ka district residents gathered outside the Big C supermarket in tambon Khlong Si in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district where yesterday's meeting was held.

About 500 residents of Bangkok's Sai Mai district who are concerned they will see an increase in floodwaters if the Lam Luk Ka residents opened a gap in the Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier also attended.

But the Sai Mai residents were prevented from confronting with their Lam Luk Ka counterparts.

Pathum Thani Governor Khajornsak Singtokul said the provincial administration would accelerate financial compensation for flood victims.

He expected the first round of payouts would be made to affected residents by month's end.

Each family would receive an initial 5,000 baht. Those whose houses were partially damaged by the floods would receive 20,000 baht later on.

Homeowners whose houses were irreparably damaged would receive 30,000 baht each, said Mr Khajornsak.

Flood-affected residents in Pathum Thani would also be allowed to submit applications for the assistance at the Khlong Si Big C in addition to the district offices, he said.

The Froc also plans to ask the government to remove more "big bags" from the dyke protecting inner Bangkok after they were removed elsewhere without incident.

Floodwaters flowing through openings at some parts of the city's main flood wall, built from thousands of the 2.5-tonne bags stuffed with sand and rocks, have not had an impact as the city is still able to drain the water out to the river, said Froc spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen yesterday, citing the latest inspection of officials.

The big bags have been placed in many areas in northern Bangkok, including a section of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Don Mueang airport, to slow down the flow of water into inner Bangkok and allow officials enough time for drainage.

But the method has increased the water level in other parts of the area near Don Mueang airport, prompting residents and authorities to remove some of the bags.

Network of weirs, dykes proposed

BALI : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will investigate setting up a network of weirs and dykes to provide water during droughts and generate clean electricity.

The initiative follows Thailand gaining support from Asean on cooperation on flood prevention, mitigation, relief, recovery and rehabilitation.

"The prime minister raised the issue of disaster relief and water management at the regional level. The prime minister spoke about food security. 

All agreed that natural disasters would have an impact on supply chains," said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

The floods have driven home the fact that Thailand is crucial in regional supply chains, in particular the car industry and rice production.

"After food security we will be raising and talking about energy security," Mr Surapong said.

"The prime minister has the idea and we have spoken to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and Myanmar [Burma] about dams along the Mekong River.

"We are not talking about dams but weirs _ smaller dams which can produce electricity from water. This coincides with green growth. 

The prime minister will raise this on further occasions and we are confident that other countries would agree. This is clean energy."

China's huge dams along the Mekong River result in droughts in certain parts of Thailand and Laos, the foreign minister said.

"If we build these smaller dams ... we can control the flow of water and we can produce electricity. We will get water during droughts for our farmers and water to produce electricity. 

We can build a continuous number. This is a new idea," he said.

The foreign minister likened this network of dams to the Four Major Rivers restoration project in South Korea.

South Korea has urged Prime Minister Yingluck to visit and observe the project which the foreign minister said is successful and prevents drought and flooding.

The Four Rivers Major Restoration Project is a multi-purpose green growth project on the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan rivers in South Korea.

The project was initiated by South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and completed last month.

The South Korean restoration project's aims were to provide or improve water security, flood control and ecosystem vitality.

It was launched in January 2009 for an estimated cost of US$17 billion.

However, the project is not without its critics who questioned its viability and its goals.

Critics also say that the four provinces which host the project have relatively few water management problems and that the project will change the natural flow of water and increase erosion.

Watchdog to mull Supoj wealth probe

The anti-corruption watchdog will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to investigate Supoj Saplom for being unusually wealthy, following the arrest yesterday of a fifth suspect in the daring robbery of the transport official's home.

National Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said a committee would be formed to probe the permanent secretary for transport's finances if the commissioners unanimously agree with the allegations.

Suspects arrested over the theft allegedly told police they took 200 million baht from Mr Supoj's home during the robbery earlier this month. The amount retrieved so far totals 12.7 million baht.

Mr Supoj insists the stolen money came from a wedding dowry for his daughter, but has declined to say how big the amount was.

Mr Klanarong said preliminary checks showed Mr Supoj had declared his assets 16 times since 2002, when he was a member of the Airport of Thailand's board of directors.

High-ranking government officials are required to declare their assets annually but unlike those of politicians, officials' assets declarations are not made public, said Mr Klanarong.

Mr Supoj refused to comment yesterday on reports that Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit had ordered him transferred to an inactive post pending an investigation into his wealth.

A fifth suspect in the burglary yesterday turned himself in to police along with 900,000 baht in cash. Somboon Riyathen, 40, who was wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with the burglary, surrendered at Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district.

Four other have been arrested, carrying with them 11.8 million baht.

The transport official alerted the police on Nov 12 that his house had been broken into about 9pm and 12 million baht was missing. 

Mr Supoj was away at the time of the robbery and the thieves tied up three maids at the house in Lat Phrao Soi 64 in Bangkok's Wang Thonglang district.

Two of the suspects caught on Thursday said they made off with more than 200 million baht in cash. Police said the men also claimed that when they broke into Mr Supoj's house, they found between 700 million baht and one billion baht stashed away in bags. Police have not commented on the amount of money taken during the robbery.

The alleged burglars arrested on Thursday _ Singthong Jaichuenchom 44, and Saokaew Namwong, 59 _ were caught with 2.8 million baht cash.

On Friday, two more suspects were caught. They were identified yesterday as Wanankrit Butrkanha, 40, who was caught in Nakhon Phanom with nine million baht cash, and Boonsueb Jomjan, 44, who was nabbed in Phitsanulok.

The police are still hunting three other suspects, identified as Wirasak Chuelee, 36, Khamnuan Meknoi, 38, and Phongsak Namwong, 35.

Yingluck backs anti-nuclear, trade calls Thai support wins thanks, White House invitation from Obama

BALI: Thailand has thrown its support behind two United States-backed initiatives and earned the thanks of US President Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government would move towards endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aims to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.

Ms Yingluck said Thailand would also consider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade deal described by Mr Obama during the recent Apec Summit in Hawaii as a "21st century state of the art" initiative.

She and US President Barack Obama held a meeting Saturday.

Ms Yingluck said the cabinet would discuss the PSI soon before formally announcing Thailand's support.

It was launched by US President George W Bush in 2003 and has been endorsed by 98 countries.

Despite considerable support for the PSI, many major powers are opposed to it, including India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Critics, including Iran and North Korea, say the PSI would allow members to stop ships on the high seas, in violation of international law guaranteeing freedom of the seas.

Article 23 of the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea allows ships "carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances" the right of passage through territorial seas.

Critics also say the PSI amounts to an act of piracy.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the US had approached Thailand on past occasions to support the PSI. "This is a lingering issue of discussion with the US for many governments," he said.

Each time Thailand has said it was willing to support the PSI but military officials said they were concerned that if ships or vessels were stopped and their cargo damaged, they could face lawsuits.

"This was a sticking point which prevented Thailand from moving forward on this issue," he said.

During the Apec Summit, Mr Surapong said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised the issue once again and sought Thai endorsement. The Foreign Ministry discussed the issue on Monday.

The minister said Thailand could obtain sufficient intelligence about what was being carried on ships to enable it to make decisions without any mistakes occurring which could lead to lawsuits.

The US considers this an important issue and Mr Obama thanked Ms Yingluck for Thailand's support, he said.

Despite Ms Yingluck's backing for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the other initiative raised in talks with Mr Obama, Mr Surapong said Thailand would need more time to consider the details.

The TPP is a multilateral free trade agreement that aims to liberalise the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.

"We did not say when. The United States is satisfied," said Mr Surapong.

"There are many conditions. Japan took a long time before deciding to join. But at least it is a starting point."

Japan recently joined the TPP, after taking years to consider the move amid opposition from its farmers.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the TPP takes economic cooperation among its members further than Apec is prepared to go.

For example, it expands cooperative measures to areas such as government procurement contracts and projects.

Mr Surapong said Mr Obama also invited Ms Yingluck to visit the US. The visit is likely to take place early next year. The prime minister is scheduled to visit China next month and India on Jan 26. Ms Yingluck told the president that Thailand appreciates increased US engagement with Burma and is delighted that Mrs Clinton will visit Burma soon.

"Thailand supports the democratic process that is occurring in Burma," said Mr Surapong.

"We are close neighbours. When Ms Yingluck visited Burma, we could see their genuine intentions to move towards a democratic process."

Mr Surapong said he asked his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin why Burma had decided not to proceed with the Chinese-backed Myitsone dam in Kachin State. 

"He told me the people and NGOs did not want the dam to be built because it would harm the environment. This means the Burmese government is beginning to listen to the people and this is good," Mr Surapong said.

During her visit to Burma, Mrs Clinton will also meet Aung Sang Su Kyi. Ms Yingluck told Mr Obama that Thailand is ready to help the US in its dealings with Burma

Red, yellow shirts back on the streets Battle lines drawn as fight over Thaksin clemency looms

Red shirt supporters held rallies in three provinces on Saturday to back a proposed royal pardon of convicted criminals including Thaksin Shinawatra, while the yellow shirt leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced they will stage a day-long protest against the measure in Bangkok on Monday.

About 1,000 pro-Thaksin members gathered at Mukdahan provincial hall Saturday to back the government-proposed decree.

Hundreds of red shirt members also rallied at Khon Kaen and Samut Prakan provincial halls to call for the government to move forward the decree, which would pardon about 26,000 convicts, including some who have yet to serve a jail term, such as former prime minister Thaksin.

In Bangkok, the PAD issued a statement saying that it will hold a mass rally against the government's proposed royal decree.

The statement, read out by PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan, said the yellow shirts will gather in front of the Office of the Council of State from 10am to 6pm.

Rally leaders will submit petitions opposing the royal pardon to the Council of State, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Privy Council, said the statement.

The PAD said it also will seek a ruling from the Constitution Court on whether the royal pardon decree is constitutional.

The yellow shirts also will try to petition the National Anti-Corruption Committee (NACC) to act against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other cabinet ministers for malfeasance by proposing the law "which could whitewash Thaksin".

Red shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana Saturday announced members of the Rak Isan Network would hold a series of rallies from Sunday to give moral support to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the draft decree. 

The first rally would be held at Udon Thani provincial hall Sunday, followed by Khon Kaen Monday and Maha Sarakham on Tuesday.

The decree was seeking clemency for tens of thousands convicts. It should not be scrapped simply because opponents feared that it would also benefit Thaksin, he said.

The proposed decree is also galvanising opposition from the anti-Thaksin movement.

An anti-pardon protest outside Lumpini Park on Friday drew about 1,000 people.

The People's Alliance for Democracy will hold a rally in front of the Council of State Monday to protest the pardon bid.

"It is unacceptable and irresponsible for thegovernment to distortthe principle and details of the decree and to seek a royal pardon for a convict [Thaksin] who doesn't admit his guilt," PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said.

The cabinet on Tuesday discussed plans for drafting this year's royal pardon for jailed convicts to mark His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, was criticised after government sources revealed the cabinet wanted to include conditions that might benefit Thaksin, who is on the run from a two-year jail term for corruption.

The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail in 2008 for abusing his authority as prime minister to help his ex-wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy a state-owned plot of land in inner Bangkok in 2003.

Mr Parthep said the draft decree undermined the principle of the royal pardon.

Only convicts who were sentenced, had served their jail terms and admitted their guilt should be entitled to the annual royal pardon, he said.

The PAD would ask a Constitution Court judge to consider whether the government's move is illegitimate.

PAD would also ask the National Counter Corruption Commission to take legal action against the government for abuse of power by endorsing the draft royal decree.

PAD key leader Pibhop Dhongchai criticised the government for approving the draft decree when the country is struggling to get through the flood crisis.

Despite the controversy over the royal pardon for Thaksin, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said many leaders attending the Asean Summit in Bali have expressed their confidence in and support for Ms Yingluck, saying she would be able to overcome the challenges of her new administration.

Speaking at the summit, the minister said no one had raised any concerns about the political situation in Bangkok.

Ms Yingluck held a meeting with US President Barack Obama Saturday.

President Obama warmly congratulated Ms Yingluck on her "inspirational" victory at the ballot box in July's elections.

Referring to Thailand's floods which have left almost 600 people dead and has tested her leadership, Mr Obama said: 

"We will extend any assistance we can. The US and Thailand are old allies, with great friendship. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the flood."

Thai Residents Clean Up Bangkok

Bangkok residents hit the streets on Saturday to help clean up the flood-drenched city now that waters have receded.

Armed with brooms and mops, residents spent their weekend afternoon pitching in to beautify the capital.

[Nujip Juntasin, Worker]:

"When the flood waters first came, it was very, very sad. Now, the water has receded, we're happy, and we can help each other clean up."

The water missed the central part of Bangkok because soldiers successfully diverted it into canals and drainage systems to flow around the city and out to sea.

But here's where it ended up...

Residents in suburbs to the south and southwest of the city, right in the path of the water as it flows towards the coast, will have several more weeks of floodwaters to deal with.

Thailands worst floods in 50 years have killed nearly 600 people and affected over two million.