BANGKOK, Feb 13 – The World Bank has suggested flood guidelines for Thailand for flood prevention and management as a method of managing expanding cities and a growing population.
The guidance came in a form of a handbook on a 21st century integrated approach to flood management in urban areas, which applies also on flood risks and the long-term changing global weather.
World Bank Thailand’s Environmental Specialist Waraporn Hirunwatsiri said the number of floods in Asia accounted for 40 per cent of the world’s flood situations in the past three decades, while over 90 per cent of the world’s population has been affected by floods.
She said developing countries in the Asian region are transforming to larger urban societies, where flood management is difficult and more expensive, while the local economy is directly impacted. Opportunities in education are limited as a long-term result, and diseases arriving with the floodwaters could be obstacles to the local development goal.
The World Bank’s report suggested that highly effective and integrated measures for risk management of floods include measures on infrastructure such as building flood sluice gates, floodways, and allowing for green areas in the cities. They applied also to having a flood-warning system, planning land usage to avoid flooding, and creating a water retention area.
All public and private sectors and communities at local and national levels are to be involved in the integrated measures, while the government must have a prompt and absolute decision when dealing with floods.
Other problems needing solutions for better sewerage are garbage management in canals and ‘canal invasions’, Ms Waraporn said, adding that online flood-warning systems will be effective in distributing hydrographic and meteorology information to investors and the general public.
She said she believed the Thai capital in the future will be ready to manage flood situations efficiently, as the government is active on the matter. Good flood management will be part of building confidence in Thailand among foreigners, she noted.
