PM calls on BMA to help drain runoff out

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday called on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to help drain the northern runoff out of the capital as soon as possible.

Ms Yingluck was responding to the reports on conflicts about draining out floodwater from the western part of Bangkok through Khlong Thawee Wattana and Khlong Maha Sawat between the BMA and the government’s Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc).

She said she understands that the BMA is duty-bound to protect Bangkok areas from floods and that Froc is overseeing the overall flood situation in the country.

“I have instructed Froc to quickly find the win win solutions on the floodwater draining conflict as there is a need to rapidly drive the runoff out to the sea to ease difficulties of people in nearby provinces being inundated for months”, she said.

Before this, there was a massive volume of floodwater in the upper part of Bangkok and Froc had to drive it out through cannels in both eastern and western parts, Ms Yingluck said.

Since the flood situation has been improving in some areas of Bangkok, it is necessary for the BMA and Froc to discuss new water draining measures, she added.

“I have ordered a water expert team to look for most effective ways to drain the water out from the flood-hit Phathum Thani and Nonthaburi as soon as possible.

“I also order Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk to install more pumps in various key points to achieve the mission”, she said.

Asked about a criticism that the BMA was too selfish for designating Nonthaburi as a water retention zone to spare Bangkok from floods, Ms Yingluck said she did not want to say so.

“I would like to ask for a mercy and cooperation from the BMA to consider which sluice gates could be wider open to help ease hardships of the people affected by the flooding.

The nature of water is that it must have a way to go. But if its way is blocked, the water draining would not be possible”, she said.

On the question that the BMA had not complied with Froc’s order, Ms Yingluck stopped for a while before saying that the BMA must help the government in thinking making decision to settle problems caused by the floods.

“The BMA must think of the hardship of the flood victims nationwide and all parties must work with their utmost efforts to get the country out of this flood crisis”, she said.