The Bang Rakam Model

Farmer Winai Taweekantai makes an earth dyke before pumping water out of his rice field in Bang Rakam district, which isrecovering from the deluge.

The Bang Rakam Model promoted by the PM for flood relief and control has its good points, say Bang Rakam residents, but it needs some adjustments.

The Bang Rakam model

Early in the flood season last August, the new prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited Pitsanulok's Bang Rakam district and was impressed with how the people in the inundated areas there were coping.

Thus, was born the "Bang Rakam Model" in which local communities would set up one-stop service centres for flood victims. Where possible, water diversion systems would be set up similar to the one between the Yom and Nan rivers – seen as a long-term solution to flooding in Phitsanulok.

Wiboon Tangkasemwiboon, former chairman of the Bang Rakam Tambon Administration Organisation, is a key figure in implementing the plan in the area. 

He says it is only a rough framework and local residents and stakeholders are the ones who must help shape the scheme.

"Bang Rakam residents can live with the flood, as it brings nutrients and aquatic animals to our community every year. Our challenge, however, is how to deal with non-seasonal floods which hit us during the rice-harvesting period," he said.

Mr Wiboon commented that the current Bang Rakam model focused too much on flood-relief operations, while the locals think it should have a greater focus on water management.

According to Mr Wiboon, the model should include measures on how to delay floodwater from arriving in the district before the harvesting period in September. 

The opening of sluice gates in the district's waterways should be adjusted to better drain water out of the district in the wet season and to keep water in the area for longer during the dry season.

Community development experts, however, have warned that the proposed water diversion project on the Yom and Nan rivers under the Bang Rakam Model could lead to conflicts between the upstream and downstream communities.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Apinya Wipatayotin.

cope – to deal successfully with a difficult situation รับมือกับ

community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน

victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as a disaster, illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย

diversion – causing something to change direction การเบนเส้นทางเดินน้ำ

similar – like somebody/something but not exactly the same คล้ายกัน

solution – a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation วิธีแก้ปัญหา

key – very important ที่สำคัญ

figure – someone who is important in some way บุคคลสำคัญ

implement – to make something such as an idea, plan, system or law start to work and be used นำแผนหรือนโยบายมาปฏิบัติ, นำมาใช้

rough – not exact; not including all details คร่าวๆ

framework – a system of rules, ideas or beliefs that is used to plan or decide something ขอบข่ายงาน, โครงร่าง

local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น

residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่

stakeholder – someone who has an interest in the success of a plan, system, or organization, for example a worker in a company or the parent of a child at a school ผู้ถือผลประโยชน์ร่วม

scheme – a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people แผนการ โครงการ

nutrient – a substance that is needed to keep a living thing alive and to help it to grow ธาตุอาหาร, สารอาหาร

aquatic – growing or living in or near water เกี่ยวกับน้ำ

challenge – something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and determination to deal with or achieve สิ่งที่ท้าทาย, การท้าทาย

harvest – the activity of collecting a crop, in this case a rice crop การเก็บเกี่ยวผลผลิต

current – of the present time ปัจจุบัน

focus – to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular subject, situation or person rather than another เพ่งความสนใจ

relief – help; assistance การช่วยให้พ้นภัย

operation – an activity which is planned to achieve something การดำเนินการ

measure – an action taken to solve a particular problem มาตรการ

delay – to make something happen at a later time หน่วง, ซื้อเวลา, ยืดเวลา

sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง

adjust – to change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable ปรับ

drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก

expert – someone who has a particular skill or who knows a lot about a particular subject ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ

proposed – suggested as an idea for a group to consider ถูกเสนอ

conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง

upstream –along a river, in the opposite direction to which the river is flowing ต้นน้ำ

downstream – in the direction that a river or stream is flowing ตามกระแสน้ำ