Posted on April 22, 2020
Authorities expect canal dredging work along Bang Krasan in Ayutthaya to finish by April 30, as the government races to finish its 6.3-million-baht plan to prevent floods in Bangkok.
The work, which was inspected by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Monday, is about 98% completed, officials said.
During his trip to Ayutthaya, Gen Prawit praised the workers — mostly of whom are soldiers from the 1st Army — and volunteers for their help as “they have to work and stay alert to Covid-19 transmission at the same time”.
Bang Krasan is a 2.2-kilometre canal in Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in district that channels some of the Chao Phraya’s water to Prem Prachakorn as it flows downstream towards Bangkok — slowing the massive run-off from the North which usually hits the capital when the rain begins to pick up.
The project is not only aimed at preventing floods in the capital, as it will also improve water transportation along Bang Krasan and Prem Prachakon, the government said. Local officials have also said that farmers along the canals will have more water to irrigate their farms once normal flow is restored.
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However, the canal had become shallow due to increased sediment flow. A sand bar also formed along its entrance, reducing the flow of water from the Chao Phraya. Last year, the government finally started dredging the canal to restore its function.
Ayutthaya officials sought the help of the 1st Army — which oversees the Central Plains — and decided to ask Gen Prawit to use the central budget to finance the project.
The officials said they could not wait for the annual budget allocation, which was “too slow” compared to funding from the central budget’s emergency reserve fund.
Source: bangkokpost
