Private boat owners urged to help lower level of Chao Phraya

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FLOOD CRISIS

Private boat owners urged to help lower level of Chao Phraya
The Nation 2011-09-23

We'll pay for the fuel, says Plodprasob; method 'worked' in Ayutthaya.

Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee yesterday urged the private sector to lend boats to the mission to quickly lower the water level in the Chao Phraya River.

The mission is designed to save Bangkok and its adjacent provinces from floods, which are now raging across 23 provinces. At press time, the official floodrelated death tolls was 136. Two other victims were reported missing.

Plodprasob said the mission would also ease flooding in those provinces already affected.

"Now, we have 30 boats in action," the science minister said.

He added that the use of boats' motors had already proved effective in Ayutthaya, quickly lowering water levels there by more than 20 centimetres.

"If you are not using your boats now, please lend them to us," Plodprasob said.

He said the method worked best during the lowtide period, which was expected to last till tomorrow (Sep24).

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is closely monitoring the situation. "We have to be prepared for runoff water from the North, and for more rain," Sanya Sheenimit said in his capacity as head of the BMA's Drainage and Sewerage Department.

He said officials were on duty round the clock at pumping stations across the capital.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was scheduled to hold a videoconference with the governors of Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Lop Buri and Sukhothai this morning to follow up on floodrelief operations, according to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang.

"She will hold similar conferences with the governors of other flooded provinces every day until the situation eases," Thitima said.

Yingluck is also scheduled to visit flood victims in many provinces on Sunday.

Yesterday, a boat carrying officials from the Department of Water Resources and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment capsized during a trip to a floodhit area in Lop Buri's Ban Mi district. All of the officials were safe, though some of their belongings were damaged.

Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park chief Saksit Ponsapsiri, meanwhile, reported that 25 officials were marooned inside the park after 2.5metredeep floodwaters submerged the road to this Ubon Ratchathanibased attraction.

"The national park has been closed due to flooding," he said.

Heavy downpours are expected in Ubon Ratchathani and 14 other provinces today, according to the Emergency Operations Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides.