Phetchaburi: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged residents who will be affected by land expropriation under the government's canal expansion scheme in the province to make a sacrifice for the public good, saying they would be eligible for compensation.
The premier was speaking as he surveyed the D9 canal in tambon Puek Tian of Tha Yang district on Wednesday, ahead of fears the area could be flooded after a dam upriver overflowed.
He was also there to follow up on a campaign to expand waterways that connect the D9 canal, which flows into the sea.
The inspection came as the province is being threatened by possible floods in the wake of the ongoing Kaeng Krachan dam spillover. Gen Prayut said some locals complained they were troubled by the project, which is being sped up by the government.
"I want people living in these areas to support the project and sacrifice some of their land for the sake of the public interest," Gen Prayut said.
In future, these canals would be used to contain water to be used to offset drought, he said.
The premier said the government would take care of whoever makes sacrifices by paying them compensation.
Royal Irrigation Department (RID) chief Thongplew Kongjun said the water level in the Kaeng Krachan dam would peak tomorrow.
The spillover would be 65 centimetres above the dam's spillway and it would flow at a speed of 100 cubic metres per second, he said.
As the dam's water is also being siphoned and pumped out at a rate of 110 cu m per second, the total discharge from the dam would be around 210 cu m per second.
The flow has flooded resorts and restaurants downstream close to the dam under 10cm of water.
The Phetchaburi River, which receives water from the dam and other waterways, would flow to Phetch dam at a speed of 250 cu m per second.
A man paddles a rubber dinghy loaded with belongings from a resort flooded by the Kaeng Krachan dam spillover in Phetchaburi. Some residents said floodwater had risen a little from the previous day.
Work is underway to divert water to other canals, including the D9, before it reaches Phetch dam. The facility's outflow is expected to be 160 cu m per second, Mr Thongplew said.
As the Phetchaburi River in Muang district is capable of coping with 150 cu m of water per second, the low-lying area close to the river could be flooded under 30-50cm of water on Sunday, he said.
The overflow would also inundate Ban Laem district with 50-80cm of water before it reaches the sea.
Water-pumping machines have been installed in areas that could be flooded, he said, adding 44 water-propelling boats have been stationed on the Phetchaburi River to ensure the water is pushed out to sea as quickly as possible.
Muang district would not be critically flooded and the floodwater could be drained out within two weeks, the RID director-general said.
However, he said Ban Laem district could be under water for more than a month. Water-pushing boats would help reduce the flooding.
It was expected earlier that downtown Phetchaburi would be hit by floods due to the Kaeng Krachan dam spillover on Tuesday night.
Having faced flood problems for a few years in a row, residents of Muang district of Phetchaburi said they believe the situation is being well managed this year.
The warning system put in place by local authorities has won the trust of people who believe it will prevent the kind of damage they faced last year. Some praised local authorities for their efforts to prepare locals for any impact.
Thipparat Sinchuea, a 49-year-old hairdresser, was worried about the flooding but she believed it would not be as bad as last year.
Arunee Sirisawa who sells snacks at a market next to the Phetchaburi River said, "I'm confident the spillover will not cause a flood".
Locals are staying alert, she said, adding she has seen many residents flocking to the riverbank to observe the water level both during the day and at night.
However, she believes it is unlikely floods will occur. If they do, she said, they probably won't cause much damage.
"Last year we weren't prepared for it, but this year we've been warned and are better prepared," she said.
Pranee Kaewsa-ard, a 67-year-old villager living near Phetch dam, said the prime minister's visit excited her and eased her worries about possible flooding.
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