Unaffected Bangkokians should help clean up canals - The Nation

TEAM Group

Unaffected Bangkokians should help clean up canals

Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation November 19, 2011 2:05 am


Water expert Chawalit Chantararat, who is also executive director of the TEAM Group, is calling on residents living in nonflooded parts of Bangkok to help dredge waterways and unclog drains in floodravaged areas.

TEAM Group is a conglomeration of environmental consultants.

According to him, the level of Chao Phraya and Ta Chin rivers is going to drop significantly for four hours daily until Thursday, and that everyone should take advantage of this lowtide period to direct runoffs to these rivers.

"In order to do this, we need to dredge canals and remove garbage from clogged drains first," he explained.

Chawalit also recommended that relevant officials open canal sluice gates fully during the lowtide period.

"In Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay district, water should be directed from Bangkok's Natee Canal to the Bangkok Noi Canal," he said.

He said that if the clearing effort worked, the level of Mahasawas Canal should drop and the Borommaratchachonnanee Road should be open to traffic next week. He added that though the flooded areas will not be dried out immediately, they should provide visible results.

Chawalit said people should take inspiration from the residents of Samut Sakhon's Ban Phaeo district, who got together to drain flood waters from their area.

Meanwhile, a channel is being dug up along the Bang Nam Jued Canal to help ease flooding in the border shared by Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. The Bang Nam Jued Canal links the Phasi Charoen Canal and Sanam Chai Canal, which direct water into waterretention areas.

Located near Rama II Road, the Bang Nam Jued Canal only has the capacity to move 4 cubic metres of water per second. The new channel, which will be about 100 metres long, will be equipped with several pumps and should be able to push 15 cubic metres of water per second.