Minister of Transport Chadchart Sittipunt has inspected a flood barrier construction site along the western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Patum Thani and Nakhon Pathom Provinces. He expressed confidence that the project would be able to handle floodwater during this year’s rainy season, as 90% of the construction is already complete.
Chadchart stated that the project is part of the THB350 billion water project, under which THB20 billion is allocated to the construction of flood barriers aimed at providing urgent solutions to the flash flooding.
He said that so far 80% of the flood barriers have been erected along Rangsit Canal in Pathum Thani Province. The barriers will be 23 kilometers long while a temporary sluice gate is being established 800 meters from the Chao Phraya’s estuary. Chatchart said the gate is meant to replace the aging Chulalongkorn sluice gate whose function is to protect industrial zones in the two provinces from potential floods.
The Transport Minister speculated that the entire project would be completed within two months.
