By Thai Newsroom
A PEOPLE’S MP urged the government to stop playing political games at expense of people’s suffering from the floods or using it as an opportunity to dismiss Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.
Dr Anusorn Tamajai, People’s MP for Bangkok, said the core issue lies in the government’s management and integration.
In comparing this year’s floods to the massive flooding in 2011 he identified the main problems as arising from “accumulated rainfall” and a “lack of unity.”
He urges the state to adopt a “single command” response strategy paired with “comprehensive support.”
The flood disaster exceeds the capacity and resources of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and neighbouring provinces to resolve on their own.
This is because it is more than just a typical natural calamity and is a problem driven by human actions, specifically global warming, combined with natural factors.
Among the long-term solutions needed to address the root causes are the following:
– Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reforesting watersheds;
– Preserve watershed forests is crucial for better regulating the water cycle;
– Managing rainfall, runoff, floods, and droughts because otherwise Thailand will continue to spend ever-increasing budgets addressing symptoms rather than causes.
The issues of global warming and climate instability extend far beyond Bangkok or the Thai government and are international, global challenges and for this reason the right strategy must be established to ensure solutions are targeted, efficient, and effective.
“Recurrent flooding is not merely a ‘natural disaster’; it is the result of management failures, government negligence regarding preparedness, and the cumulative leakage of water management budgets across various administrations and the bureaucracy.
“It reflects issues regarding local decentralisation and an unbalanced approach to centralised crisis integration.
“The core issue lies in the government’s management and integration,” Anusorn said.
As of yesterday Pa Sak Jolasid dam’s water storage stood at 951 million cubic metres (representing 109% of its normal capacity of 872 million cubic metres) and the Royal Irrigation Department is gradually adjusting discharge rates to accommodate rainfall.
In comparison with the situation in 2011 there are significant differences with Bhumibol and Sirikit dams then were at 99%–100% capacity, necessitating the opening of spillway gates. In contrast, this year Bhumibol dam held only 66% of its capacity (with no discharge), while Sirikit dam held 80% (discharging only 7 million cubic metres/day).
Another comparison shows that the water flow through Nakhon Sawan this year was 2,610 cubic metres per second, significantly lower than the 2011 peak of 4,686 cubic metres per second.
Therefore, this year’s crisis did not stem from massive water volumes flowing down from northern dams as it did in 2011; rather, it was caused by sudden, intense heavy rainfall — or a “rain bomb”— and accumulated rainfall that triggered severe, simultaneous flooding across multiple river basins.
“The public understands that no one can control nature or ‘rain bomb’ phenomena. However, what society is questioning is the ‘efficiency of crisis management’— asking whether the problem stems from nature itself or from a lack of proactive integration by the government,” Anusorn said.
He highlighted concerns regarding weaknesses in the government’s past response efforts, specifically:
1/ Delayed and difficult-to-understand warning communications. Despite efforts to establish a centralised “One Map” data system, communications still relied on overly formal language resulting in a slower process for the public to access information and make decisions compared to private sector data.
2/ Delays in assistance and evacuation efforts by the Ministry of Interior. Operations were hindered by the transition period of personnel reshuffles and the overlap of fiscal years.
3/ Regarding preparedness in Bangkok, measures such as lowering water levels and dredging canals should be undertaken prior to heavy rainfall.
To achieve a sustainable solution Anusorn proposes that the government reform its operational structureby dividing responsibilities into three levels (central, provincial, and local) using a “single command with comprehensive support” approach.
In doing so the government should grant “single command” authority to provincial governors. As the officials closest to the actual context and on-the-ground data, governors must possess decisive command authority within their areas to ensure timely responses.
The central government should provide “comprehensive support” in three key areas:
1/ Data integration: Consolidating data on rainfall, water levels, drainage, and weather conditions from all agencies, processing it into easily understandable information, and relaying it to local administrators for immediate decision-making;
2/ Resource allocation: Rapidly providing resources—including manpower, boats, disaster relief equipment, evacuation centres, and relief budgets;
3/ Macro planning & fairness: Formulating a comprehensive plan, systematically assessing the interconnections between upstream and downstream areas, and managing water fairly — ensuring that no single province is left to shoulder the burden and impact of floodwaters alone.
“The true challenge lies not in controlling nature, but in managing available resources, data, and personnel to their full potential. Restructuring to enable rapid command at the local level, backed by strong and equitable support from the centre — will be key to minimising losses and building public confidence,” Anusorn said.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,right, discussing the flood crisis with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, left. Photo – Naewna
First insert: People’s MP Anusorn Tamajai. Photo – Naewna
Second insert: Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspecting the floods. Photo – BBC
Other inserts: Severity of the floods. Photos – Naewna
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