New idea for ridding city of floodwater | Bangkok Post: learning

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Froc explores a new idea for draining flood water as evacuation centres are prepared in nearby provinces. (Note: Most of Bangkok remains dry)

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18:10 Reports are coming in that the government has decided against the road-cutting plan described below. It will be interesting to find out why.

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Froc floats road drainage plan

Experts look at digging channels to ease the flow

Evacuation camps prepared

POST REPORTERS

The Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) is looking at the possibility of digging channels into some roads in eastern Bangkok to help drain run-off from the north to the east of the capital and on to the sea.

The proposal is intended to ease the massive flow of floodwater bearing down on the capital's inner city areas.

The proposal has been put forward by a group of engineers and water resource management experts, led by Ninnart Chaithirapinyo, vice-chairman of Toyota Motor Thailand.

They met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Froc yesterday to discuss the proposal.

Mr Ninnart said experts from the group have agreed that five roads in eastern Bangkok are deemed as blocking the northern run-off.

Channels could be cut into the road surfaces to direct floodwater to the east of the capital and out to the sea.

Plans are to dig a channel of between 5m to 6m wide on each road to allow for floodwater to flow.

Mr Ninnart said the private sector came up with the proposal because it had been found that water pumps and the drainage system in eastern Bangkok are not working to their fullest capacity. This is because the roads have blocked the runoff from reaching the areas where the water pumps are installed, Mr Ninnart said.

If the roads are cut through, they can help drain about 60 million cubic metres of floodwater a day, he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Yingluck said she had told the group to discuss further details with the Transport Ministry, the Highways Department, the Royal Irrigation Department and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. She said she will call a meeting of authorities today to assess the possible impacts if the roadwork is to be carried out.

Meanwhile, the Froc has prepared shelters in nine provinces for Bangkok residents if the flood situation forces them to flee.

Among the nine provinces are Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Chachoengsao and Samut Sakhon.

Thung Song Hong National Housing Flat in Bangkok's Lak Si district is heavily flooded.

The announcement came as the flood situation deteriorated in several parts of Bangkok.

At least 85 per cent of Don Mueang Airport was under 50 centimetres of water.

Don Mueang Airport, which houses the Froc headquarters and an evacuation centre, suffered blackouts twice yesterday because of the rising floodwater.

The deluge surged into the entrance of Terminal 2 at about 4pm after a strong flood current destroyed a floodwall in the northern part of the airport.

The flood level on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road was over 60cm in some spots, turning it into a grand canal and forcing public buses to be suspended.

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday issued evacuation warnings to residents in all areas of Sai Mai and part of Thawi Wattana districts.

High tide in the Chao Phraya river continued to wreak havoc on riverside communities in Bang Phlat, Bangkok Noi and Phra Nakhon districts.

The governor advised city residents to keep abreast of the flood situation, saying evacuation is likely to be recommended in several areas.

You can read more on the roadwork proposal here: http://bit.ly/vhry6g

Flood Relief Operations Centre – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
float – to suggest a plan or an idea for consideration เสนอ
drainage – the process of taking away of water or other liquids from an area  การระบายน้ำ
channel – a passage that water can flow along, especially in the ground, on the bottom of a river, etc ช่องทาง
ease – to make a problem, situation or pain less severe or serious บรรเทา
flow – the continuous movement of a liquid in one direction การไหล
evacuation – moving people from a place of danger to a safer place การอพยพ
drain – to get rid of the water in an area of land ระบายออก
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
proposal – a plan or suggestion for a group to consider ข้อเสนอ
intended – planned; wanted to happen  ที่ได้วางแผนไว้ ที่ตั้งใจให้เกิดขึ้น
massive – very large ใหญ่มหาศาล
bear down on – to move quickly towards something  ลุกลามมายัง
deem – to consider เห็นว่า ถือว่า
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
surface – the outside or top layer of something  ผิวหน้า, ผิวภายนอก, ด้านนอก
private sector – businesses and industries that are not owned or controlled by the government ภาคเอกชน
capacity – the ability to do a particular thing ความสามารถ,สมรรถภาพ
details – small facts or pieces of information relating to a situation รายละเอียด
Royal Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
assess – to carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order to make a judgment ประเมิณสถานการณ์
impact – an effect or influence  ผลกระทบ
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
shelter – a temporary place to stay ที่พักชั่วคราว
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
flee – to leave a place or person quickly because you are afraid of possible danger หนี อพยพ
deteriorate – to become worse เลวร้ายลง
headquarters – the place where an organisation or company has its main offices กองบัญชาการ
suffer – to be badly affected by a very difficult or unpleasant situation ประสบความลำบาก
blackout – a sudden loss of electrical power ไฟดับ
deluge – a sudden flow of a large amount of water, a sudden, very heavy rainfall น้ำปริมาณมาก ฝนตกหนัก
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
terminal – a large building at an airport where passengers arrive and leave อาคารผู้โดยสาร
current – a strong movement of water in one direction กระแสน้ำ
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
suspend – to stop for a period of time ยกเลิกชั่วคราว, ระงับชั่วคราว
tide – the regular rise and fall of the level of the sea (the tides) ปรากฏการณ์น้ำขึ้นน้ำลง, กระแสน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง
wreak havoc – to cause something bad to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled way ทำให้เกิด ความเสียหายอย่างรุนแรง, ทำให้เกิดความหายนะ
keep abreast of – to make sure you know all the recent and most important information about something ติดตามสถานการณ์
recommend – to advise someone that they should do something  แนะนำ

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