Thailand recently experienced the worst floods in decades which destroyed properties, businesses, and tourist attractions. One the viable solutions that have been proposed in the management of floods in the future, is the development of floodways or waterways for the central region of the country. This proposal was discussed in depth in a meeting held by the subcommittee on sustainable solutions to water resource management. 

An ambitious express floodway to be constructed in Thailand

Thailand recently experienced the worst floods in decades which destroyed properties, businesses, and tourist attractions. One the viable solutions that have been proposed in the management of floods in the future, is the development of floodways or waterways for the central region of the country. This proposal was discussed in depth in a meeting held by the subcommittee on sustainable solutions to water resource management. The subcommittee’s chairman, Mr. Kitcha Polpars, is also an advisor to the office of Royal Development Project Board. This subcommittee was established by the Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management, which is chaired by the prime minister. According to Mr. Kitcha, the floodways will serve a bigger purpose than flood management; they will also be used as logistic routes when conditions are normal. This flood management programme intends to cover an expansive part of Bangkok, both in the eastern and western parts. In the eastern part of Bangkok, these floodways have been proposed to start from Min Buri district flowing through Nong Chok district, and then finally dumping the waters out to sea.

On the western side of Bangkok, the waterways should start in the Nonthaburi province, at the Bang Yai and Bang Bua Thong district level and then direct the flow of water to the Tha Chin River. The movement of water in the Tha Chin River is rather slow. Therefore, to compensate for that factor it was suggested that more waterways be built, to connect with the river. This project should follow the template set by Khlong Lat Pho Floodgate Project, which was an initiative brought by the King’s desire to see more water drain into the sea quickly to alleviate flooding pressures. Mr. Kitcha also suggested the development of a large dam reservoir, which would be able to store at least 100 million cubic meters of water each year, sourced from the Yom River. As far as long term water management programme are concerned, Mr. Kitcha referred to the Kaem ling project, which is able to accommodate large volumes of water flowing from the upper to the lower regions and gradually easing its flow to the sea.