BANGKOK – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to increase the capacity of swamps and monkey cheek water retention areas in the capital city to cope with the drought crisis.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and BMA executives surveyed Bueng Rang Khe swamp in Bang Khun Tian district. The governor disclosed that the BMA’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage has planned to dredge the swamp to raise its capacity from 15,000 cubic meters to 20,000 cubic meters, so that agriculturists can also benefit from the program.
Bang Khun Tian District Office is preparing to develop the area around Bueng Rang Khe into a recreational area. The BMA has approved a budget of 11 million baht for the project. MR Sukhumbhand revealed that the BMA was also looking for 20 locations to expand monkey cheek water retention areas to mitigate the effects of the dry season.
As for the drought situation, the governor said that the East Bangkok was heavily affected due to intensive off-season rice farming, while the impact on the West was minimal.
