BMA drops Khubon-Bang Chan project after costs soar

Today 08:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) canceled the Khubon-Bang Chan water retention project due to its cost soaring to an estimated 11 billion baht, making it economically unviable.
Project costs escalated significantly due to increased land prices and additional expenses for constructing water barriers, floodgates, pumping stations, and channels.
Experts revealed the planned 870,000 cubic meter retention area would only effectively manage 500,000 cubic meters, rendering it insufficient for Bangkok's flood challenges.
The decision sparked criticism over the project's decade-long delay since its 2011 proposal, which allowed costs to inflate while Bangkok continued to face severe flooding.
Officials concluded that even if completed, the project's limited capacity would not have absorbed recent heavy rainfall, emphasizing the need for larger-scale water management solutions.

PM orders relevant agencies to be prepared for fresh rains

Yesterday 16:22 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul directed all relevant agencies to prepare for a new round of heavy rain from tomorrow through October 10, specifically targeting the central plains.
The PM's order follows satellite imagery showing an intense rain cloud system moving from the South China Sea towards Thailand.
During a national disaster meeting, he addressed public complaints about inaccurate weather forecasts, urging the Meteorological Department to provide clearer public clarifications.
For Bangkok, the Prime Minister instructed the BMA to prioritize and expedite water drainage into rivers, noting that food distribution to affected people is handled by various other agencies and volunteer groups.
He confirmed that the command centre would convene daily to review the flood situation, emphasizing the government's commitment to helping citizens through the crisis.