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Thai-ASEAN News Network
Adequate Drinking Water Supply Affirmed
UPDATE : 3 November 2011
The drinking water club of Thailand is confident that there is sufficient drinking water to support the high demand and says it is not necessary to import drinking water.
Drinking water club of Thailand's vice president, Witoon Kamonnarumet gave an interview to ASTV News 1 in which he said that the club has proposed measures to avoid drinking water shortages.
The 7,000 drinking water manufacturers nationwide would provide drinking water to the government, which the government could then deliver to flood victims.
However, the government has declined to follow their proposed measure, which has caused the drinking water shortage in the country.
Recently, the government made the decision to import more than 7 million bottles of drinking water from other countries.
In Khon Kaen Province, the Internal Trade Department ordered the provincial community development offices to cooperate with drinking water manufacturers in Khon Kaen Province to produce and sell drinking water to the government.
The modern trade company will manage the transportation and logistic system.
The first 300,000 bottles of drinking water are ready to be delivered to the flood victims in Bangkok and surrounding areas today.
The drinking water club vice president believes that if the government follows the drinking water measures that were proposed by the club, no drinking water shortages will occur.
Furthermore, he added that the government does not need to import drinking water.
However, the drinking water manufacturers are experiencing water bottle shortages.
The vice president claimed that plastic manufacturers have been out of polymer, the main material used to produce water bottles.
He has asked agencies concerned to solve the problem quickly.
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Bangkok Post : Flood won't creep into inner Bangkok
Flood won't creep into inner Bangkok
In a live TV flood analysis, Chavalit Chanrat, managing director of Team Group, said that the flood invading Bangkok right now is on average 50 cm deep. Those in low-lying area may see upto 60-80 cm but those in higher ground will see only 20-30 cm.
When the leak in Bangkok North is slowed by big bags, Bangkok's canal system can drain off excess water to be pumped out at giant tunnel at Rama IX Rd into Chao Phraya.
Mr Chavalit did not expect the flood to advance further than Chatuchak area.
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Bangkok Post : Yingluck accept King's floodway
Yingluck accept King's floodway
In a TV report, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters during her tour of flooded areas that she would convey His Majesty the King's advice on floodway to concerned agencies to be implemented to prevent future flood.
She also admitted that she found it hard to manage the flood as the water mass is huge but she would not resort to the ultimate emergency decree to deal with angry residents who destroyed sluice gates or dykes. She'd rather seek understanding with them.
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Bang Chan Industrial Estate flood risk lessens - The Nation
Bang Chan Industrial Estate flood risk lessens
November 3, 2011 7:02 am
Flood risk against the Bang Chan Industrial Estate in eastern Bangkok has reduced after the water gates of Klong 8, Klong 9 and Klong 10 canals in Pathum Thani were closed Thursday, according to Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
Local people in Pathum Thani, however, are protesting against the closing of Klong 9 Canal's water gate. They have demanded that the Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) open the water gate immediately.
The Nation
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TAN_Network TAN News Network [at]
Ayutthaya Province prepares for big cleaning day on Nov 10 to revive economical and historical sites via [at]ThaiPBS
THAI Airways confirms all flights, both domestic/international, on schedule despite floods via [at]ThaiPBS
Metro police warn that destroying or damaging flood gates, levees, flood barriers holds a punishment of 3 yrs and/or 60,000 baht fine
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TAN_Network TAN News Network
Flood expert Dr. Seree on [at]ThaiPBS speculates that flood waters on Vipavadee Rangsit to reach Lad Prao Intersection tonight
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More from Dr Seri....his opinions are quite different the opinion given in the Bangkok Post article above...
veen_NT veena T.
Expert Seri: floodwaters will reach Lad Prao tonight; then flowing onto Lad Prao, Din Daeng and Victory monument. #ThaiPBS
Expert Seri: In the West, it will take 2-3 days for floodwaters to flow from Petchkasem to Rama II Rd.
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TAN_Network TAN News Network
Water starts to seep into Meenburi Prison;officials prepare to evacuate 4,000 prisoners to provincial facilities if water rises [at]news1005fm
Suwintawongs Road sees 40 cm of water; small vehicles should avoid via [at]news1005fm
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Bangkok Post : Flood advance should stop in one week
Flood advance should stop in one week
GIS expert Dr Anond Snidvongs in a daily live flood analysis at NBT noted that Vibhavadi flood resulted form the leak at Muang Ek barrier. The flood advance would halt if the big bag barrier for 6 km finishes. Then it will take about 2-3 more days before the advance stops. After that the BMA's canal system will gradually drain off the water and the flood will recede.
Bang Chan Industrial Estate is very near Khlong San Saep. If the government can manage Khlong Samwa sluice gate in line with other sluice gates, the flow into Khlong San Saep will not be worrisome.
Ram Intra flood resulted from Don Mueang and Minburi on both sides.
If an area is flooded and the level is stable, it will not rise again.
Thon Buri side. Big picture. Will spread wide but not deep as it comes from floodwater in the fields. The flood stopped at Mahasawat canal for awhile and now is creeping towards Phasi Charoen canal.
RID and BMA will try to plug all the breaches in the flood walls along Chao Phraya river. If successful, water in various canals in Thon Buri side could be pumped into Chao Phraya, which should lessen the length of flood time.
All the breaches along Chao Phraya from Ayutthaya should be plugged by November 15.
The people nearer the sea will experience only low level of flood and shorter timeframe.
In one week, the flooded roads on Thon Buri will be at the level about knee deep on average.
"We should be concerned more about water mass volume threatening Bangkok, not the amount of water mass existing above as a whole. As long as we can manage the outflow greater than the inflow, the flood situation will improve."
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Bangkok Post : Help protect Khlong Prapa
Help protect Khlong PrapaFlood Centre spokesman in a daily NBT flood situation report noted:
Big picture: Flood subsides in Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong and other provinces along the Chao Phraya river.
Big bags, 2-2.5 tonnes each, 6km barrier is near finished. Expect to finish tomorrow.
Existing floodwater in Bangkok will then be drained into the sea via BMA's canal system.
Bang Chan district see water level rises a little. Communities must be made to understand the government's water management and to compromise to benefit the country as a whole. Local authorities must make understanding/giving information to local people.
Police must be deployed to protect working officials as well.
Bang Kae is declared evacuation area. Warning for Chatuchak.
Floodwater now creeps into Ratchayothin.
MWA informed that the damaged dyke has been repaired with help from Corrections Department and Pakkret Community. Bang Khen plant's tap water capacity is near normal today. Water quality is safe and upto international standard.
"Please don't destroy Khlong Prapa dyke again. Please help protect Khlong Prapa."
Armed forces provide trucks in conjunction with BMTA to help people commute in flooded area.
Provincial buses still operate normally, but South Terminal is shifted temporarily to Beer Holland, Rama II Rd due to flood on existing South Terminal. Mor Chit terminal for North and Northeast routes is still operating.
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http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewDat...DataID=1049481
FROC Evening Press Briefing November 3, 2011
UPDATE : 3 November 2011
The spokesperson of the Flood Relief Operations Center held his evening press briefing at 9:10 P.M. this evening. Tongthong Chandransu said northern runoff has lessened as shown at the Chulalongkorn flood gate which is also seeing less water.
He revealed that Nakorn Sawan Province is organizing a big cleaning day on November 5.
As for flood barriers between Pathum Thani and Bangkok where officials are stacking thousands of “big bags” weighing more than two tons each together with more than 600,000 sandbags is almost complete. The Transport Ministry is over seeing the project with cooperation from the Army and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Work is expected to be completed tomorrow.
With the flood barrier up, officials expect less water to flow into the city. Existing flood water in the Lak Si, Lad Prao, and Bangkhen areas will be drained into the Prem Prachakorn Canal.
On the situation where many communities are taking down flood barriers in frustration, local authorities have been assigned to come to an understanding with local residents. Irrigation specialists will also be sent to explain the circumstances and the necessity of having the barriers in place. Metropolitan police will also send forces to guard flood gates and barriers throughout the city.
Tongthong revealed that the Waterworks Authority has successfully fixed flood barriers along the Klong Prapa. The Bangkhen water treatment facility is close to producing its normal capacity. Aside from this, Swiss experts have been brought in to approve the quality of the tap water being distributed to the public.
FROC revealed that Sri Tanya Hospital and the Bangkae Nursing home have successfully evacuated most patients to facilities in other provinces. Patients who require special care still remain at both facilities in Bangkok, but have been moved to higher ground.
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tukky_nt tukky_nt
9.54pm: Floodwater is at 1.2 metre high on Phetchkasem Rd near The Mall Bang Khae #TNN
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Tulip_Oum Tulip Naksompop
10:13pm Water seeping in at the end of Soi Ramintra 38, highest at 30cm.~[at]fm91trafficpro
9pm Kaset univ prepare to cut the power tomorrow (Nov 4), while water keep raising. residents asked to evacuate.~[at]bkkflood
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Thailand floods: At the floodwaters' edge, entrepreneurs flourish - CSMonitor.com
Thailand floods: At the floodwaters' edge, entrepreneurs flourish
Floods in Thailand have killed 437 people and submerged the northern suburbs and towns. As floodwaters slowly make their way to the center of Bangkok, locals are showing a can-do ethos.
By Simon Roughneen, Correspondent
November 3, 2011
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2011/11/261.jpg
Residents wade through floodwaters in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok, Tuesday. Higher than normal tides pushing into the Chao Phraya river from the Gulf of Thailand in recent days have complicated efforts to drain floodwaters flowing from the country's central heartland, where vast areas have been submerged for up to two months.
Sakchai Lalit/AP
Bangkok, Thailand
As floodwaters edge closer to some of Bangkok's hitherto-dry central areas some enterprising people – including those affected by the waters – are doing a steady business selling flood-related provisions.
For more than two weeks, the floods that have killed 437 people and submerged northern suburbs and towns to the north, have been slowly making their way to the center of Bangkok. The west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the central part of the city, is heavily-flooded. Though the main shopping and business districts have been spared – so far – many businesses around the city have been forced to close as thousands of people have evacuated, or gone to tend their homes.
Squatting on a sidewalk on the Phahonyothin Road, Suchida Kumjit looks over her shoulder at the newly-rising waters less than a foot away. “It was dry here this morning,” she says. “The water only came here at around noon today.”
She has temporarily left her day job at a legal firm in flood-hit suburbs to the north, and is now collaborating with some friends, procuring and selling Chinese-made rubber boots for Bangkok residents needing to keep their feet dry and legs protected.
Ms. Suchida and her friends represent a growing number of residents who, amid the disruption that the floods have wreaked on their jobs and homes, are showing a can-do ethos, and helping others and themselves.
As the water moves south, the market opens up. “We have sold 36 pairs [of boots] today so far,” says Suchida. But, she says, when the water rises they will move shop and sell more boots at the flood's edge.
Standing nearby is Nattapong Sodajan, arms resting on one of the inflatable dinghies he is selling at 4,500 baht ($146) each. “My job is gone for now,” he says. “I used to drive a delivery van bringing wholesale goods to shops, but the warehouse is flooded.”
He says he has sold about 10 dinghies a day since commencing his new venture on Monday, procuring the inflatables for 4,200 baht ($136.40) each wholesale price.
Across the street, army and volunteer trucks pull up in shin-deep rising waters outside a shopping mall and cinema, with police sirens blaring less than a mile from Bangkok's main court buildings.
To the north of this newly-flooded street, there have been disputes across the flood barricades between residents and officials. People living in flooded areas say they have been left to suffer with deep stagnant waters in order to save the inner city.
As reported by the Monitor on Tuesday, after reports of the worst flooding being over, officials allowed residents near the Sam Wa canal sluice gate to open a one-yard hole to allow water flow south. But after another announcement, that the city actually hadn’t seen the worst yet, the Bangkok city authorities to enforced a re-sealing of the gap yesterday.
Some see the confusing signals as a slight against the Thailand government.
However, given the mass of water and the various choices and complexities involved in decision making, the blame game might be best left to another day. Kim McQuay, Thailand Representative of The Asia Foundation says that political leaders in Thailand have hard calls to make.
"I think that all the political stakeholders that are caught up the flooding crisis, each equally motivated to demonstrate firm leadership, while others are left to seemingly falter, are facing extraordinarily difficult choices; choices that they are bound to exercise on the basis of scientific projections and flood modeling that are less than perfect, with the added refinement of political calculus."
Thailand has had unusually heavy rain this monsoon season – with northern Thailand getting 46 percent more rain this year than in the past, according to data gathered by the “Bangkok Pundit,” a widely-read blogger on Thai politics, who previously compiled information on water levels at Thailand's dams, another factor contributing to the current flooding.
While authority figures may yet have to answer for the flood response, it is likely too early to get into name-calling, says Chris Baker, author of numerous books on Thailand's politics and society.
“I think we'll have the data to assess and allocate blame in about six months' time. It will need quite a lot of data,” he says. “All allocations of responsibility made now are shallow and political.”
In the meantime, locals are making the most of the current situation.
A few yards down the Phahonyothin Road from Nattapong Sodajan, Singha Kaipong, a former watch salesman is also selling inflatable boats. “Am I happy with the current situation?” he laughs, shaking his head but holding a thick wad of 1,000 baht notes in his right hand. “My home is flooded too,” he says, “and my old job, gone for now.”
“People need boats. I don't sell for a major profit. But if we don't sell, then who can?”
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StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog
22.44 Water inside Soi 34 Phahonyothin is at 1 metre deep, 80cm at kaset-Nawamin intersection (via [at]yordyings )
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tukky_nt tukky_nt
11.23pm: Water started to creep out from drainages on Ratchadapisek Rd near Chao Phrya Hotel. #TNN
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Porpich Porpich Julia T.
11:19pm Water keeps rising on Phahonyothin in/outbound. In front of Major Ratchayothin flooded by footpath deep ~ [at]Rawangpai
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Ryn_writes
Flood starts coming out from street drains behind Dept of Land Transport, Chatuchak. Via [at]Araya_spring_tv
