The Nonthaburi Provincial authority, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC) agreed yesterday Nov. 22 to open all sluice gates on Khlong Maha Sawat wider to help relieve flooding in the province.
The agencies acquiesced to 500 protesting Nonthaburi residents who have been inundated for weeks, the Bangkok post reported. People from Bang Bua Thong, Bang Yai, Bang Kruai, Sai Noi, Pak Kret and Muanghad previously blocked a road in front of Nonthaburi’s town hall on Sunday to protest the lack of action from officials.
Protesters were reportedly furious over televised comments from a senior government official who said that their area remained inundated because they had weak local leaders .
“Isn’t it the duty of the government to provide pumps and other means to drain the water out of our homes?,” said one protestor.
“Do we have to keep on paying room rent elsewhere because our homes are under water and stink so that areas in the capital can remain dry and clean?,” said another.
Nonthaburi governor Wichian Phuttiwinyu angered protesters so much earlier in the day that he had to flee the scene after reading a letter from Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand that said the sluice gates would be opened gradually.
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Sai Noi district in Nonthaburi. Photo: Gavin Nazareth
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