BANGKOK, Sept 1 (TNA) – The Royal Irrigation Department warned people in 11 provinces of the rising level of the Chao Phraya River as it will increase the discharge rate of the Chao Phraya barrage on Sept 4.
Prapit Chanma, director-general of the department, wrote to the governors of 11 provinces in the Chao Phraya river basin and relevant organizations, asking them to warn people living near Chao Phraya and Noi rivers to monitor water levels closely because his department had to increase the discharge rate of the Chao Phraya barrage in Chai Nat province as the Chao Phraya River was receiving water at a faster flow rate from the North.
On Sept 4, the discharge rate at the Chao Phraya barrage will be 1,800-2,000 cubic meters per second. That will raise the level of the Chao Phraya River below the barrage by 40-50 centimeters on Sept 5 and 6.
In Ayutthaya province, officials and soldiers deployed embankments to protect ancient Ayutthaya city from possible flooding. The embankments were elevated 1.50 meters above the ground along a distance of 315 meters in front of the Si Suriyothai pagoda to protect key business areas and archeological sites of the central plain province.
Workers of the Ayutthaya municipality built 1.30-cm-high soil embankments where there was not a permanent embankment. The level of the Chao Phraya River on Thursday was 60cm below its banks. (TNA)