The Flood Relief Operations Command has shot down a demand by a new group of flood-affected residents to open a gap in the "big bag" flood barrier on Phahon Yothin Road.
About 200 residents of housing estates along the main road removed some of the bags on top of the barrier near the air force base yesterday afternoon, unleashing torrents of water through a 3.5 meter gap.
They demanded that an opening of at least 10m be made in the barrier. The incident occurred about 2.45pm at the Directorate of Air Operation Control intersection in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani.
However, the Froc rejected their demand. Froc spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen said Froc decided not to bow to the residents' call as it could worsen the flood situation in inner Bangkok.
The Froc will meet protesters at 11am today to discuss other options, such as turning part of the barrier into a weir to hasten the flow of floodwater.
The weir idea was proposed earlier this week by another group of residents in Don Muang district who demanded the Froc tear down part of the barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to speed the flow of floodwater which has remained high and submerged their housing estates for almost a month.
The Froc accepted the weir idea, ending the protest there.
The Lam Luk Ka residents yesterday tore down more bags after learning their demand had been rejected.
At the same time, another group of residents in Rangsit which borders the upper Don Muang district descended on the crest of the big bag barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
They vowed to tear down the barrier if the authorities did not pump out water from their areas where the barrier has blocked it in.
The protesters yesterday agreed to disperse after the Pathum Thani governor promised them he would report their demands to the Froc.
Deputy Bangkok city clerk Somphop Ra-ngapthuk, who has also spoken with the protesters, said it was the Pathum Thani provincial administration's duty to deal with their demands.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat has suggested motorists take Rama II Road instead of the Suphan Buri-Taling Chan Highway 340 that has been partly reopened. He said only one lane of Highway 340 was open to traffic and it was rather muddy.
The government has tried to salvage the whole of the flooded highway to make it an alternative route to Rama II Road, which was still passable yesterday.
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