Bangkok’s seasonal floods reveal the problem of short-term thinking

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Sitang said existing agencies are still dealing with the risks and problems of flooding in the same old way. Resources are mobilized mainly as temporary “fixes” for recurring problems or as knee-jerk responses to flooding. Thailand’s flood defenses lack long-term measures.

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Sitang said NWC was initially established to deal with heavy flooding in the Northeast in 2018. It remained in place after the floods subsided but lost its role as an urgent responder. The government then tried filling the gap by setting up flood-management centers at local levels, she said.

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However, the capital will inevitably flood for several reasons, Sitang said. Among them is exponential urban growth coupled with gaps in planning law and its enforcement. As a result, much of Bangkok’s natural water-retention and drainage channels have been lost to buildings and other urban structures.

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Also, Bangkok’s water-drainage system is not functioning at full capacity. At present, only four drainage tunnels are in operation, one is under construction and others are at the planning stage. Water management is also hampered by clogged pipes, canals encroached upon by makeshift dwellings, and broken pumps.

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