Nonthaburi residents up in arms

Nearly 1,000 Nonthaburi residents, gathering at city hall to hear the provincial governor's response to their demands, yesterday threatened to destroy floodwalls and prolong their protest if their demand for sluice gates to be opened to a width of one metre were not met.

Meanwhile, residents of western Pathum Thani province slammed the government for its failure in water management, called for flood water to be drained out of their homes and demanded remedial measures for victims.

After Nonthaburi Governor Wichien Phutthiwinyu's announcement that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would open the sluice gates connecting to Nonthaburi to no more than 70cm was greeted by jeers, national Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) spokesman Pol General

Pongsapat Pongcharoen told residents that the BMA would open the Thavee Wattana/ Mahasawat gate to one metre by midnight yesterday. 

However, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra later dismissed Pongsapat's claim at a press conference, saying there was no such agreement with the FROC.

He said the BMA had only agreed to open the Thavee Wattana sluice gate to a width of 50cm, as he had announced previously. 

"It's impossible for the BMA to open it one-metre wide because it would cause overflows and flood Bangkok homes," he insisted.

The Nonthaburi residents had rallied outside city hall, and after waiting since 11am, threatened to destroy flood walls, such as those along Mahasawat Canal and Highway No 304's "big bag" embankment, if their demands were not met.

They had submitted a four-point demand on Sunday: that the BMA allow the sluice gates connecting to Nonthaburi (such as Bang Phlad, Bang Bumrhu and Mahasawat canals) to open at least one-metre wide in order to drain the province's polluted flood water; 

that Nonthaburi authorities get rid of garbage and weed blocking all waterways in the province; that provincial officials and the FROC declare Nonthaburi a special flood-disaster zone so that affected families are compensated for actual damage, 

besides receiving the initial Bt5,000 flood-assistance money; and that the authorities install water pumps in order to lower the water level visibly until residents are able to return home without having to use boats.

A deadline of December 1 was given for the last of these demands.

Wichien in the afternoon held discussions with the demonstrators' representatives and officials at a city hall conference room in a bid to find a solution. 

However, no conclusions were reached after an hour, as representatives reportedly added demands and argued among themselves.

At 1pm, he announced by megaphone to some 800 demonstrators that the BMA had agreed to open the sluice gates to a width of 70cm, from the previous 50cm, causing the demonstrators to jeer at the decision. The governor then said he would consult with the BMA further.

Pongsapat, who arrived later and discussed the situation with Wichien, then announced that the BMA had agreed to open the Thavee Wattana/Mahasawat sluice gate to one metre at midnight.

As regards the protesters' second demand, the Nonthaburi governor said he would have the Bang Bua Thong Canal dredged today, followed by Phra Phimol and then other canals, while also fixing damaged floodwalls.

He promised to get 200 water pumps from the Royal Irrigation Department and have them installed today to drain flood water out, hence the water level would be significantly lowered by December 1.

For the special-disaster-zone demand, Wichien said he had tabled the matter at a meeting on Monday with the FROC, which had promised to consider it in combination with similar demands concerning other flood-affected provinces.