The Department of Corrections announced yesterday that its inmates are ready to help city officials curb flooding problems in Bangkok.
Director-general Pol Col Suchart Wong-anantchai says the city’s 1,000 inmates are ready to help dredge canals and clean drains in inner Bangkok. He noted that they will work hand in hand with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to drain floodwater in the city.
Thousands of motorists and commuters were left stranded on major thoroughfares on Tuesday after flash floods swept the city due to heavy rains.
The Department of Corrections said they will be surveying the flooded areas and assessing what caused it. Mr. Suchart said that if the problems are within the 3,500-km stretch of drains in the city, the prison inmates will be sent out to do the dredging. However, if the flooding is caused by drainage pipes being too small, the BMA will be notified so they can fix it.
Pol Col Suchart also noted that he has directed prisons all over Thailand to select 2000 well behaved inmates to do public service. These inmates will be on standby for flood duty, the Bangkok Post reported.
