Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Surasawadi said on Monday he would set up a committee to investigate the Bangkok city administration for stuffing sandbags into the drainage system on Srinakarin Road in disobedience of the instructions of the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC).
Mr Plodprasop, as WFMC chairman, said he had three questions for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to answer:
1. What kind of water management is stuffing sandbags in the drains?
2. Who ordered BMA workers to put sandbags in the sewers, and why this was done while storms were on the way?
3. Where else has the BMA stuffed sandbags in the drains?
Mr Plodprasop said he would order the sandbags removed because putting them in the drainage system went against an agreement that the BMA would help the WFMC in draining water out of the city. The sandbags, instead, blocked the waterflow, he said.
He said the BMA would be ordered to removed all of the sandbags and he would set up a committee to investigate City Hall for disobeying the WFMC's order.
The BMA's explanation that it was part of its flood prevention measures was not credible. He wondered if it was a deliberate ploy to upset the WFMC, Mr Plodprasop said.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra insisted it was part of the preparations to cope with flooding .
Dredging canals and waterways is not the only aspect of water management. Proper use of watergates and water pumping stations, as well as use of sandbags, are the other measures. Those stuffed in the drains on Srinakarin Road did not affect the drainage capacity in that area, he said.
MR Sukhumbhand insisted that the sandbags belong to the BMA. Whoever wanted to remove them must first coordinate with the BMA, he said.