Water levels in dams 'scary'

News > Local News

Discharges needed to avert floods, says expert

Published: 23 Jan 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Water should be released from major dams in the North to prepare for new inflows, a Chulalongkorn University's expert said.

The amount of water held in many dams, especially Bhumibol and Sirikit dams in Tak and Uttaradit provinces, is much higher compared to this time last year.

"Officials should start releasing water in the dams right away as we have only a few months left before the rainy season arrives in May," Sombat Yumuang, director of Geo-Informatics Centre for Thailand (GISThai), Chulalongkorn University, said.

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abbub
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Discussion 31 : 24 Jan 2012 at 20.1331
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SAMUT I believe John is pointing out the fact it is the Dems playing the blame game regarding the floods and the economy whereas they are largely responsible themselves. It is a reaction to their one-sided finger-pointing that never seems to end but easily forgets the facts of the past.
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samut
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Discussion 30 : 24 Jan 2012 at 18.3530
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Discussion 29: You can’t just stop to blame AV for everything; the people responsible for the disaster in 2011 are first of all the bureaucrats not Democrats! Maybe nothing has been done before but nothing has been done after either. Look around in Bangkok! Do you see anything which looks like water management or flood prevention? I don’t think so.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 29 : 24 Jan 2012 at 12.5929
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dao D17 - 200 people died in flooding in 2010, a year of record drought, while Ayutthaya was under water for a month. The majority of 2010 flood relief money, according to the PACC, was tainted in corruption. Nothing was done to prevent a re-occurrence in 2011. AV was the Prime Minister for the first 2 months of the 2011 floods, but he did nothing but blame PTP for the floods.
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flashflood
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Discussion 28 : 23 Jan 2012 at 18.3728
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D 15 and D 17 -well said.
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dao
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Discussion 27 : 23 Jan 2012 at 15.3227
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Maybe the people who were in charge of the dams before last year should be allowed to do their jobs because this wasnt a problem until last year .
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drake
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Discussion 26 : 23 Jan 2012 at 15.2126
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Someone made a bet that 2011 was going to be a dry year and lost.
Now they are making the same bet again ?

It would be nice to know WHO are the people making these decisions about how much water to discharge and when.
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samut
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Discussion 25 : 23 Jan 2012 at 14.1125
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As long as Thai bureaucrats and politicians are unwilling to listen to others (we know better!) there will never be a change. Tsunami warnings were given but ignored as it is with the floods. Everyone of this people acts like being an expert but no one would ever listen to an expert that is the main problem in this country.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 24 : 23 Jan 2012 at 13.2424
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Are the flood waters from the 2011 floods fully receded yet? Is 2012 predicted to be a drought year or record flooding? Is it ok to drain all the water to reduce the risk to Bangkok in exchange for risking farmland drought? Should we trust one single 'expert', or have a panel of experts review the situation?
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pointoffew
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Discussion 23 : 23 Jan 2012 at 13.1623
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Just a little note for those who believe what many were thought at school: in the north and north-east, the rainy season actually starts in May, being one of the wettest months of the year.

This year, parts of the north-east are experiencing what looks like one of the wettest month of January in recent history.
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abbub
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Discussion 22 : 23 Jan 2012 at 12.5822
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BANGM D18: "The funding for flood-victims has already been lost to corrupt PTP MP's & officials"

Can you back that up, please? A pretty sweeping statement to make and if you have any evidence you should press charges otherwise keep your (lopsided?) opinions to yourself. Accusatory statements like that are unacceptable unless you have proof at hand.

LANCE D17: Agreed, the canals and other waterways are clogged and filthy. It is amazing to see people still fishing in them! Beside cleaning and de-clogging, the previous illegal blockage of waterways to build houses and condos and worse, golf courses should be immediately looked into and measures taken to hold those who did not go through proper channels accountable.

I doubt seriously the people around Bangkok would be willing to accept yet another snub by government if floods hit again.
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Water levels in dams 'scary' | Bangkok Post: news