The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is seeking Bt22 billion from the national government for new anti-flooding projects including several giant subterranean tunnels.
Three of the tunnel projects have already had their designs completed, Adisak Khantee, director of the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said yesterday.
The six tunnels could help drain enough water to prevent stagnant floods in the capital. Currently there is one in use and three under construction.
There are also four “expressway” canals whose construction could begin in 2015 – a 4.9-kilometre extension parallel to Ram-Indra Rd, a new 3.5km canal along Pradit Manutham Rd, a new 5km canal along Ratchadiphisek Rd connecting Ratchawipha Pumping Station to Huai Khwang Canal, and a new 9km canal.
After chairing yesterday’s meeting, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra set up a committee to look into the possibility of charging a wastewater-treatment fee from households and businesses consuming more water than average.
The BMA would need Bt14 billion from the government to run 26 projects and Bt8 billion to run 17 other projects from 2012-17, so he might seek a meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss the budget request.
On work in progress, Adisak said 987 canals and waterways had been dredged out of all 1,133 channels, while 2,884km of sewers had been dredged out of a total of 3,949km.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-seeks-Bt22-bn-for-flood-prevention-work-30209764.html
