As Thai floods recede, more communities clean up

PATHUM THANI, THAILAND

Efforts to clean up areas near Bangkok that were flooded as much as a yard (meter) deep just two weeks ago are gaining pace as the threat of inundation of the Thai capital eases.

Hundreds of volunteers joined monks in gathering flood detritus into garbage bags Tuesday near the massive temple that houses the Dhammakaya Buddhist sect in Pathum Thani province, just north of Bangkok.

Businesses in unaffected parts of central Bangkok are removing their sandbag barriers as it becomes clear that floodwaters have been diverted east and west of the center of the city.

Since July, more than a fifth of the country's 64 million people have been affected by the worst flooding in more than 50 years, leaving at least 606 people dead.

Nonthaburi locals demand City Hall opens sluice gates

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.

Pathum Thani starts to dry out

The flood level is slowly falling in Pathum Thani and there are high expectations the area will return to normal in about 10 days.

Flood levels have receded by about 50cm and are continuing to drop.

The water has receded significantly on Pathum Thani-Bangkok Road, a main road linking the province with northern and eastern Bangkok.

Three bus lines have resumed services on this route but smaller cars are still advised to wait until the flood situation has further improved.

Flood waters in several housing projects in Pathum Thani’s Muang district have receded by about 20cm, raising hopes that the overall situation will be back to normal in about 10 days.

By then all roads in the province should be dry, with only a few low-lying parts still holding pooling water.

Meanwhile, the floodwater on the Pathum Thani- Sam Khok Road, connecting Muang district with Sam Khok district, remains as deep as 80cm on average and only military trucks can pass through.