Thailand: Cabinet approves additional fund to build flood walls

Bangkok - The Cabinet has approved an additional fund of more than 700 million baht to expedite 3 water management projects, which are expected to keep Bangkok dry during this rainy season.

Minister of Science and Technology Prodprasob Surasawadee, who is also the chairman of the flood and water management committee, revealed that the budget allocation of 769 million baht has been approved following the request from his committee.

According to him, 263.7 million baht will be spent to complete the construction of a siphon at the Bang Chom Sri water gate and another 334 million baht for the setting up of the semi-permanent water pumping station at Rangsit Prayurasak Canal in Pathum Thani province.

The move, the Minister said, will help prevent flooding from occurring in the areas north of Bangkok, where many industrial estates are located. Another 171 million baht has also been granted by the Cabinet to fund the flood prevention scheme for Thammasart University, the Asian Institute of technology and the National Science and Technology Development Agency, which are all situated in the flood-prone zone.

Floodwalls will be reinforced with concrete while more barriers made of soil will also be constructed around Thammasart University’s entrance and in the vicinity of the turnpike. Mr. Prodprasob added that Thammasart Hospital must be protected as it would be used as an evacuation center in the event of inundation.