Dispute has been resolved: PM

The dispute between officials and residents over the drainage rate at Klong Sam Wa watergate in eastern Bangkok is over, with the height of the gate currently being fixed at 100 centimetres, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he had learned of Yingluck's statement, but needed a written order before he could comply with the decision on the height of the gate.

The governor had earlier said that keeping the gate at a height of 100cm would put many nearby districts that had not yet flooded at greater risk, and that 80cm was technically an appropriate level - a possible reason for his statement that he required written approval from the government before proceeding.

However, the gate's height cannot remain at this level all the time, and will be lowered occasionally to prevent excess water being released from Sam Wa Canal into San Saeb Canal, which would put many areas and industrial estates at risk of flooding, Yingluck said.

Local residents had converged at Klong Sam Wa watergate throughout Sunday night, demanding that the gate's height be raised to 150cm from the original, standard level of 80cm.

Feeling threatened by a 1,000-strong crowd, many of whom were armed with tools and hurled angry words at them, officials agreed to increase the height to 75cm in accordance with regulations and the authority they possessed.

The size of the crowd ebbed and flowed throughout the night, with additional villagers swelling the numbers after learning of the rally. The protesters also staged a roadblock at the nearby Hathai Mitr Intersection in a bid to pressure officials into meeting their demand for the gate to be raised to 150cm above water level.

Despite mediation by two Pheu Thai MPs, who said the height could be increased initially to 130cm after negotiations with officials, a group of residents starting digging up both shoulders of the sluice gate in an effort to release more water, before being pushed away by police.

Various proposed levels were repeatedly tossed around by both sides, with heights ranging from 100cm to 150cm being demanded, and 75cm being put forward by officials. The 75cm level was then jointly approved by the government and the BMA. However, a height of 100cm was finally agreed upon by the government and the BMA, as announced by the prime minister.