Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department has ordered all sluice gates in key dykes to be guarded around the clock after a recent incident involving the unauthorised opening of a gate in the Sam Kok district of Pathum Thani, causing alarm among people living downstream as the water level in their communities suddenly started to rise.
The department’s deputy director-general, Thaweesak Thanadechophol, said today (Friday) that the increased security at the country’s main sluice gates will be kept in place until the flooding problem has eased.
He also said that he has instructed irrigation officials at the sluice gates to seek help from the local police or administration officials if they are short of manpower to protect the gates.
He also urged local people to help irrigation officials by watching out for strangers who may try to tamper with the gates.
