~ Yaung Chi Oo Workers' Association

City Hall expects to drain floodwater out of all swamped main roads in a fortnight after its demand for additional water pumps from the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) was met.

A raft of new ideas
A traffic policeman takes a bamboo raft across Lat Phrao intersection where flood levels reached 80 centimetres yesterday. The intersection has been closed to traffic since Saturday night. RATTASEEMA PONGSAN

"We should be able to drain water out of all main roads within two weeks and in about one month from inundated sois," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
His comment came after Froc had promptly sent 24 pumps to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) following the governor's demand on Saturday for better cooperation.
The pumps will double the BMA's capacity to empty floodwater from eastern Bangkok, said MR Sukhumbhand.
He also thanked the Froc for responding to his call for pumps. They will help drain water out of the capital through the east.
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) also responded to MR Sukhumbhand's call for it to turn on more pumps. The department yesterday began switching on 16 out of 20 pumps at its Khlong Saen Saep water pump station in Nong Chok district.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra looks at damaged houses on a visit to flood-ravaged communities in Soi Charan Sanitwong 46. THITI WANNAMONTHA

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the department said it had begun starting up 16 pumps at the Nong Chok station after closing the Nong Chok sluice gate, which is in neighbouring Chachoengsao province, to prevent water from flowing from the province into Nong Chok district.
Four other pumps were spared for use in rotation in case the pumps needed to operate around the clock, said the department.
It did not operate all 16 pumps from the beginning because it had promised residents protesting against its drainage of water into Chachoengsao that only nine pumps would be operated pending further negotiations with them.
Earlier in the day, MR Sukhumbhand said the BMA had re-submitted a formal request to the Froc asking it to order the RID to maximise its water pumping capacity at the Nong Chok station.
He said the RID operated only nine pumps out of 17 functioning ones. The other three were out of order.
What was still worrying was rising water levels in flood-prone areas of eastern Bangkok, said MR Sukhumbhand.
The Froc planned to close three water gates at Khlong 8, 9 and 10 to reduce the volume of floodwater flowing from Pathum Thani province to Bangkok's eastern section. The Froc managed to shut down only Khlong 8 and 10 water gates after protests by Lam Luk Ka residents in Pathum Thani.
However, the protesting residents agreed to have the Khlong 9 sluice gate closed yesterday after the RID promised to install 27 water pumps to drain water out from Lam Luk Ka.

Water bubbles up from a traffic-cone marked sewer in front of Bangchan Industrial Estate in Min Buri district. SITTHIKORN WONGWUTHIANAN

The deluge moved closer to the inner part of the capital yesterday as experts projected the Saen Saep canal would overflow soon.
MR Sukhumbhand yesterday issued evacuation orders for the entire areas of Phasicharoen, Nong Khaem and Chatuchak districts as well as Khlong Sip sub-district, the northern part of Khu sub-district, and Khok Faed sub-district of Nong Chok district and Saen Saep sub-district of Min Buri district.
So far, evacuation orders have covered 11 districts, namely Don Muang, Sai Mai, Laksi, Bang Khen, Bang Phlat, Taling Chan, Thawi Watthana, Bang Kae, Phasi Charoen, Nong Khaem and Chatuchak.
The City Hall also declared a flood watch in three more districts_Thon Buri (Talad Phlu sub-district, Thoet Thai Road and Wutthakat Road), Lat Phrao (Lat Phrao sub-district) and Min Buri district (in Min Buri sub-district).
Floodwater flowing from the northern outskirts to the middle part of Bangkok reached Phahon Yothin Road in front of Big C department store in the Saphan Khwai area as well as Khlong Bang Sue canal.
On Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, floodwaters reached the headquarters of Thai Airways yesterday.
In western Bangkok, floodwater on Phetkasem Road was up to one metre deep and reached Bangphai Hospital, which will be closed until Nov 16.
Floodwater from Nong Khaem district reached Bang Bon district where local roads were 30cm under water and impassable to small vehicles.
Floodwater also reached Khok Ma community on Ekachai 8 Road in Chom Thong district.
In eastern Bangkok, flooding started at three-way Bangchan intersection inside the Bangchan Industrial Estate yesterday. Floodwater from Ram Intra Road reached Tesco Lotus store on Navamin Road and was about to enter Bang Kapi district.
The government is pinning its hopes on big sandbags to save the capital as it plans to lay more of them to reduce the floods. Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap said the first 6km of the 18km "big bag" barrier that stretches from Khlong Prem Prachakorn canal southward and cuts across Vibhavadi Rangsit Road through the northern boundary of Don Mueang airport was nearly completed.
If the 18km line is finished, it should reduce inflows by over 60% and the BMA could pump water out of the capital.

A Buddha head in a holy Bodhi tree at Mahathat temple in Ayutthaya is re-emerging as flooding recedes in several parts of the central province. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH