The remaining three kilometres of the flood-barrier along Chao Phya River left to be constructed will not be completed by the end of this year as previously slated, a source at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Drainage and Sewerage said yesterday.
This is because city officials do not dare evict people living on encroached land along the river for fear that the action could affect Bangkok and district councillor elections in August, the source said. As of 2009, about 1,500 households in 28 communities were found living on encroached land on either side of the river.
Department chief Sanya Cheenimit said that for this rainy season, fast-acting units had been prepared to respond to floods as well as traffic jams and car problems in risky areas. The river's water levels are normal because the Chai Nat Dam is only releasing 45 cubic metres of water per second.