While the severe inundation of Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan was inciting wild rumours and panic among residents of downstream Bangkok, a former irrigation chief yesterday played down the flood risk to the capital.
uch about the situation," Pramote Maiklad said. If the Chao Phraya River overflows, the water is unlikely to reach the inner city, as it is protected by strong floodwalls and road designs, he said.If it rains, Sukhumvit, Lat Phrao and Bang Kapi might see slight flooding, if any at all, as the water can be drained out fast enough, he added.
The outskirts - such as Nong Chok, Min Buri, Pathum Thani's Rangsit district and Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay and Pak Kret districts - will not suffer from floods for a long time, thanks to the city's well-designed flood-prevention and drainage infrastructure.
The Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan river levels are stable, while the Bhumibol and Sirikit dams are releasing less water.
The flow in Nakhon Sawan was measured at 4,668 cubic metres and the level had increased only slightly in the past day or two, so there is no need to fear the northern run-off, Pramote said.
The Chao Phraya River was running at 3,660-3,500 cubic metres, which was regarded as stable, and there was not much rain falling.
The flood situation should improve gradually, so now it is only a matter of controlling the flood and draining the deluge into the sea, he said.
Narong Jirasappakunakorn, director for the drainage information system division of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Drainage and Sewerage, said the city could divert water in eastern Bangkok through the San Saeb and Prawet Burirom canals into the sea.
The drainage capacity is 20 million cubic metres per day in case of no rain and 10 million cubic metres in case of rain, he said.
The areas outside the floodwalls in Min Buri, Nong Chok and Lat Krabang districts will be slightly affected.
Klong Sam Wa district's Phromjai Pattana, Suksan Pattana, Thong Pattana, Lat Nimitsampan, Suksamran Pattana communities will suffer up to 80 centimetres of flood water.
In western Bangkok, the city diverted flood water from Nonthaburi, running at 3 million cubic metres per day, via Thaveewattana Canal out into the ocean, Narong said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Experts-play-down-risk-to-Bangkok-30167531.html
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