City's canalside residents brace for flood drill

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City's canalside residents brace for flood drill

Downpours hit west of capital, raising concerns

Published: 5 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

People living in low-lying areas along main canals in western Bangkok are on full alert today with water drainage drills set to be carried out.

Montas Kosolsomboon, 55, of Wat Saladeang Community in Bang Khae district, said she and her family have closely monitored the water level at Khlong Thawi Watthana in front of her house. The level is now only 10cm below the concrete walkway.

''I have already prepared cement blocks in case the water reaches the first floor of my house. Although the situation will be different from the heavy flooding last year, I can't help feeling scared,'' she said.

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dao
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Discussion 11 : 05 Sep 2012 at 14.5511
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The plan to test canals is not the governors .It is PTs .The governor was against the test for obvious reasons .He was the one fighting to keep Bangkok dry and has my full support .
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dao
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Discussion 10 : 05 Sep 2012 at 14.0110
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We have never had a problem with the canals in Bangkok except for the fact they get filled in by greedy developers .The problem is poor water management when you release water from the dams when the river is already full of rain water which multiplies as it comes from the north and is also effected by tides in the Gulf of Thailand . There hasnt been much rain this year so therefore if dams have been drained there shouldnt be a problem .Its not that complicated PT .
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peterl
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Discussion 9 : 05 Sep 2012 at 12.159
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Hopefully one of the benefits of the test will be to identify bottlenecks in the canal drainage system where further dredging is needed. This seems so obvious to me, I'm surprised it is controversial.
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bikeme
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Discussion 8 : 05 Sep 2012 at 10.258
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D2 Khunbj - according to your beloved PTP, the canal dredging project is already completed. The BMA is against the tests because they haven't finished repairs to some of the sluice gates. If the canals are "full of crap" then you best target the PTP with your complaints since they oversaw the dredging work that was done.
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samut
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Discussion 7 : 05 Sep 2012 at 09.577
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The flood was last year and since then we know that one of the problems were canals (klongs) which are full of crap, build on or just filled up with soil to build on. Now short before we might experience another flood they are checking on canals instead of cleaning them, how can this people be in charge of a city?
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rex

Discussion 6 : 05 Sep 2012 at 08.456
Water accelerators ie pumps, work as they pressurise water in a confined pipe. Are there confined pipes in this system? If not then other than big eddy activity, what is being proposed seems badly informed. Better get Noah.
from iPhone application.
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gwats
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Discussion 5 : 05 Sep 2012 at 08.255
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I'm putting off my next visit to February... hopefully, a very dry Month in Thailand.
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rontorr
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Discussion 4 : 05 Sep 2012 at 07.544
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If it does flood, it will simply prove that the canals do not adequately drain the water efficiently, to no one's surprise except The Gov. Sukwhatever
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pjt
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Discussion 3 : 05 Sep 2012 at 07.113
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The BP would do a service to have an expert settle once and for all whether water accelerating devices such as fixed tug boat propellers actually work. Personally I do not see how they can as the rate of flow would appear to be determined by the size and depth of the river together with its gradient - water accelerating devices change none of these. The 'accelerated' water has no where to go as the rate of flow of water downstream of the accelerating devices is still determined by the above natural factors. But willing for an expert to educate me
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khunbj
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Discussion 2 : 05 Sep 2012 at 06.592
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There you have it, the locals know that the canals that BMA declared ready are still full of crap....so that is the reason why Mayor Sukhumbhand does not like to do the testing.!!! Bangkok is not ready yet, locals know it, BMA does not or is not telling the truth . "'I see no benefit from the test. Everyone knows clean canals can help speed up water flow. The government should speed up its work in clearing objects that obstruct water flow,'' she said."
What the citizen not is aware of is who is responsible for the clean up which in this case is the BMA....but I would not be surprised if BMA is blaming the Government for their own incompetence .
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City's canalside residents brace for flood drill | Bangkok Post: news