Water management will require years of investment, Dutch expert advises

Thailand should turn the flood crisis into an opportunity by introducing a comprehensive flood and water management system, Dutch water-management expert Adri Verwey said.

"The will is very important," said Verwey, who was dispatched by the Netherlands government and spent weeks in Bangkok helping the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC).

Verwey, who is leaving Thailand this weekend as it begins to appear that inner Bangkok will be spared, said it would take Thailand years to ensure that Bangkok becomes a safe and stable environment in terms of flood risk.

Verwey, who spoke at the Dutch Embassy on Thursday evening, said that a comprehensive flood and water management system in central Thailand will stimulate the economy.

He believes Thailand does not need to relocate its capital, as proposed by some 20 Pheu Thai Party MPs, adding that it can learn from the Netherlands and other nations which face a similar threat. "Don't rush," Verwey said. "Bangkok can still go on for quite some time [as the capital]."

Dutch Ambassador Joan Boer said he hopes the flooding will serve as a "tipping point" for Thai society in committing itself to making citizens feel safe from flooding. 

Boer added that his home in the Netherlands, dating from the 1780s, is two meters below sea level, but he feels completely safe. The ambassador said his government is more than willing to assist 

Thailand in learning from its successes as well as failures in tackling flooding over the decades. The envoy added, however, that it took 50 years of investment to build what exists in his country today.

Verwey, who said industrial estates like Lat Krabang could be spared if sluice gates and flood barriers are properly maintained over the next seven days, added that Thailand may not need a new water authority as some have suggested. 

What is essential, however, is for the Kingdom to have a "clear rule" that governs the way various authorities talk with one another. "We try to make water [a] non-political issue in Holland."

Asked if it is now safe for residents of inner Bangkok to remove their flood defenses, Verwey said it was up to individuals. 

He added, however, that since there are so many sandbags in Bangkok and surrounding areas at the moment, the selling price would be low, while holding on to them a little longer might fetch a better price.

It might be worth noting, however, that as of Thursday evening, the Dutch Embassy on Soi Ton Son Road was still protected by sandbags outside its gates.