The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will propose, to National Water Command Centre at its meeting tomorrow (Monday), a project to build a 19km tunnel to drain water from the eastern part of Bangkok into the sea via Samut Prakan.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said today that water in Bangkok’s eastern suburbs, which is currently drained into the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province through the Chao Chaiyanuchit canal, is encountering difficulty, becausethe canal passes through a mountainous area which slows the water flow.

The other channel through which water from the eastern suburbs drains is the Samrong canal, which is a low-lying area, into Phra Khanong canal and then into the Chao Phraya River through a sluice gate, or it is pumped out of the canal if the river level is high.

The governor said that the ideal way to drain water from the eastern suburbs is to build a tunnel at the Lam Pla Thio canal,to drain water into another canal and then into the sea in Samut Prakan.

He said that the project needs cooperation from the Royal Irrigation Department, because it is beyond the jurisdiction of the BMA.

He also said that canals alone are not enough to drain excess water out of Bangkok and its suburbs in case of flooding and that several canals in Bangkok are blocked by illegal households.

He praised Acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for his quick decision in calling a meeting of the National Water Command Centre tomorrow, one day after he inspected flood situation in Nong Chok and Min Buri.