Dept scotches Chao Phraya rumours, vows no flood
>> The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) insists it will not raise water discharge from the Chao Phraya barrage in Chai Nat as the inflow continues to drop.
The confirmation was made in a bid to counter rumours spread on social media that people in downstream Pathum Thani, a province on the Chao Phraya River neighbouring north Bangkok, should get prepared for a further, heavier flood as the barrage “will release more water this week”.
RID deputy director-general Thongplew Kongjun said yesterday the agency has no plans to accelerate the water discharge from the Chao Phraya barrage, which regulates water control of the Chao Phraya River from Chai Nat.
Mr Thongplew said water levels of the Chao Phraya River passing through Nakhon Sawan have lessened. The inflow was at 2,919 cubic metres per second yesterday and the water level was 12cm lower than the day before. The barrage was maintaining its discharge at 2,697cu m of water per second yesterday, which helps stabilise the river level downstream, he noted.
Mr Thongplew said the RID plans to keep the barrage’s water discharge at a rate of no more than 2,700cu m per second and reduce the inflow to waterways on the western side of the barrage from 500cu m per second to 475cu m per second.
On the eastern side, once the river level drops to 17.3 metres above mean sea level from the current 17.35 metres, the inflow into the irrigation channels would be reduced from 270cu m per second to 245cu m per second.
Mr Thongplew said once the Chao Phraya River drops to a point where there is no flooding upstream from the barrage, the water discharge would start to decrease.
The RID is expediting efforts to increase the flow of the Chao Phraya River into the sea, he said, noting the agency was supported by the navy, which provided seven water-pushing boats at Klong Lat Pho in Samut Prakan province.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd echoed Mr Thongplew’s statement, saying the government had no plans to accelerate the water discharge levels from the Chao Phraya barrage.
“The prime minister expressed concerns about some misinformation being shared in social media,” Lt Gen Sansern said, adding that although several provinces have been flooded, there will be no major deluge as had been rumoured.
Lt Gen Sansern said that the flow of the Chao Phraya River was measured at 2,826cu m per second in Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai district, while Bangkok and its surrounding provinces are capable of handling up to 3,500cu m of water per second. He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has followed up on flooding situations in several areas.
The premier urged the state agencies to give simple and clear explanations about the water situation to avoid confusion, Lt Gen Sansern said.
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has ordered its provincial offices to work with other state agencies to assist flood-stricken residents and restore areas where floods have subsided.
The order was given by army chief Chalermchai Sittisad, who also serves as the deputy director of the Isoc, according to Isoc spokesman Pirawat Saengthong.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) expressed concerns about the low-lying spots outside flood walls along the Chao Phraya River, the Klong Bangkok Noi and the Klong Mahasawat, as they could be flooded.
Narong Ruangsri, deputy director of BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said 18 communities in 10 Bangkok districts could be inundated during high tides.
The BMA will place sandbags to protect communities outside the flood wall and set up wooden footbridges so people in communities can get around, he said.
RID director-general Somkiat Prajamwong yesterday surveyed flooding in Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in district, where the overflow of the Chao Phraya River swamped more than 6,000 households in 11 tambons.
Mr Somkiat said the flooding in the Central Plains region has peaked, adding he was convinced the floodwater will ebb within seven days.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said that yesterday 17 provinces remained flooded with almost 300,000 people affected.