In an effort to ward off flooding during the rainy season, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has begun dredging the city's canals, with the work expected to be finished in May.
The Department of Drainage and Sewerage (DDS), together with every district office in the capital, is working to dredge 217.93 kilometres of waterways in the city, deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon said yesterday.
About 43% of the work has now been completed, or around 93.65km of canals, he said.
In the 2024 fiscal year, the DDS plans to dredge 19 canals with a total length of 79.07km, while the remaining 45.20km will be dredged by district offices.
The plan, Mr Wisanu said, is to finish dredging all of the canals in May before the rainy season starts.
Regarding cleaning up the city's drainage systems, Mr Wisanu said the BMA hopes to dredge 1,965km in total. So far, about 60% of that work has been finished.
The project is due to wrap up next month, said Mr Wisanu.
Dredging the city's canals and drainage systems will make the BMA's water management projects, which are set to be completed this year, more efficient, he said.
That includes a drainage system to prevent flooding on Rama VI and Si Ayutthaya roads, and the renovation of a similar system along Si Burapha Road in Bang Kapi district.