BANGKOK, 14 February 2012 – Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has announced that 27 typhoons and 3-4 tropical storms are expected to hit Thailand this year.
During the five-day flood tour of the prime minister and her entourage, Mr Plodprasop reported the findings of the Science and Technology as well as Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministries, saying the storms are expected and the sea level could rise higher than last year’s by 15 centimeters, making water release more difficult.
According to the report, around 20 billion cubic meters of incoming water is expected, of which 5 billion cubic meters will have to be contained in dams, another 5 billion will be kept in Monkey Cheek water retention projects, and the other 10 billion will be released through Bangkok. The government is expected to use 45 days to release all the water; however, Mr plodprasop insists that Bangkok will not flood.
The meeting among 10 provincial governors in the North concluded that the Kang Sue Ten Dam construction must be continued and that the government should make an understanding with the locals in a bid to pave the way for a more effective water management system.
