Bangkok administration plans flood responses with other provinces

BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) -- Executives of Bangkok and nearby provinces are about to form a joint committee with relevant organisations to effectively respond to flooding. Bangkok governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang met governors of nearby provinces namely Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao as well as representatives of relevant organizations including the Meteorological Department, the Royal Irrigation Department and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The meeting resolved to form the joint committee for water management in Bangkok and the nearby provinces within Friday. Pol Gen Aswin will chair the panel. The Bangkok governor said the committee would closely monitor water situations and put personnel and equipment on standby for flood prevention and responses. According to him, Bangkok’s flood walls along the Chao Phraya River can cope with its flow rate at up to 2,500 cubic meters per second. Therefore, there will not be any problem with the Chao Phraya dam that is discharging water at 1,300-1,400 cubic meters per second due to heavy rains. The Meteorological Department reported that the amount of rain in this rainy season is 45% higher than its average. It warns of possible floods in September and October as heavy rain is predicted in September simultaneously with high tides. (TNA)