AYUTTHAYA - All six industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces are now protected against flooding, including Saha Rattana Nakorn, where temporary barriers were being erected in case of an emergency, Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk announced on Thursday.
Installation of a 6km temporary flood barrier at Saha Rattana Nakorn, which is 6.5 metres above sea level, is 30% complete, he said.
Earthen dykes are in place at the other five facilities: Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate, Ban Wa (HiTech) Industrial Estate and Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya under the supervision of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), and Nava Nakorn Industrial Zone and Bangkadi Industrial Park in Pathum Thani, under the Industrial Works Department.
“We are confident that the dykes surrounding the five industrial estates will be able to prevent flooding, because they are taller than the 2011 flood levels. We are also confident here [at Saha Rattana], because we have prepared flood barriers packed with sand in case of an emergency,” said Mr Prasert, adding that the Industrial Estate Authority has set up a war room to monitor the situation.
Ayutthaya deputy governor Tawee Narisirikul said water levels in the Chao Phraya River had fallen by 10-20cm since yesterday, so a repeat of the 2011 floods is unlikely.
The IEAT purchased 20 km of flood barriers 2.4 metres high from UK brand Hesco three months ago for 141 million baht.
Manoman Thanapasuk, executive director of Universal Technologies Co, the Thai distributor of Hesco flood protection walls, said a 6km barrier like the one in Saha Rattana can be set up within one or two days, depending on manpower and available tools.
He said he is in talks with two to three foreign reinsurance companies about getting Hesco's flood walls onto the approved list of products for flood contingency plans.
“Companies offering flood insurance lowered premiums last year because there was no major incident as in 2011, but foreign reinsurance companies want to make sure that companies applying for insurance have good contingency plans, which includes products that are up to standard,” said Mr Manoman.
Prapas Mooyen, general manager of Thai Marujun, said his company has not made any preparations this year because floods were unlikely.
“The [company's] chairman is confident that there will be no floods this year, and even if there were one, the estate's experience learned from 2011 will prevent it from having any problems,” he said. The company had built a second factory in Saraburi province last year, so work could be transferred there if necessary.
The Japanese company in Saha Rattana employs 1,300 workers and manufactures automotive parts for Honda and other brands.