A national water management meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Friday approved a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plan to improve drainage efficiency on the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River to prevent flooding.
The meeting also called on the BMA to speed up its study of the drainage system in the eastern part of the capital to be in line with water management projects of other state agencies to ensure the efficient tackling of flooding.
Among the projects the BMA should consider were the Royal Irrigation Department's irrigation system improvements in the lower part of the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River and the water drainage system in Samrong Nua in Samut Prakan province.
The meeting also urged the BMA to seek budget allocations.
The meeting was attended by representatives from several agencies including the Royal Irrigation Department, the Department of Water Resources and local administrations, and included Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt.
On Thursday, Mr Chadchart met Nonthaburi governor, Sutee Thongyam, to discuss joint efforts in flood prevention as he stressed that collaboration was key to effectively preventing flooding.
He said he would hold talks with other neighbouring provinces including Pathum Thani and other concerned agencies such as the Highway Department and the Rural Highway Department.
Mr Sutee said the province would be able to handle the situation if runoff from the North does not exceed 3,100 cubic metres of water per second.
"The province can handle this volume of water and if it survives [the flooding]; Bangkok will too," said the governor of Nonthaburi.
Earlier Mr Chadchart said that City Hall was concerned about runoff from the North and ordered the deployment of sandbags in vulnerable areas including the eastern part of the capital.
Meanwhile, in Ayutthaya, Wat Choeng Tha, a restored ancient temple and filming location for the popular TV series Bupphaesannivas (Love Destiny) in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, was flooded by water overflowing from nearby canals yesterday.
Many nearby areas such as Thung Kaew Bua Khwan field and surrounding communities were also flooded heavily.
