GOVERNMENT TO BUILD MORE KAEM LING PROJECTS TO PREVENT FLOODING
The Government has been closely monitoring the flood situation and has provided immediate assistance to flood victims in all affected provinces. In a long-term plan, it will build more kaem ling projects across the country in its flood-prevention efforts.
Literally meaning ‘monkey’s cheek,” kaem ling is a well-known flood-control project initiated by His Majesty the King. His Majesty observed that most monkeys, when they obtain bananas, usually store them in their mouths, and then they gradually chew and swallow them. His Majesty has modeled the concept for water detention after the way monkeys eat bananas by temporarily storing excessive water during heavy rains and afterwards gradually draining it. This technique helps alleviate the flood problem effectively.
His Majesty the King has recently distributed 10 million baht in relief items to help flood victims through the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation.
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Water Resource Management Committee, said that the flood problem this year had affected many provinces, and floodwater came from all directions. Noticeably, water flows have changed their normal directions and caused huge damage.
He urged officials concerned to study and seek ways to prevent the problem in the future. Construction of the kaem ling projects will receive greater attention. There are currently 190 water detention areas in Thailand based on the kaem ling concept.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has instructed related government agencies to urgently provided immediate assistance to help flood victims in many provinces. He has also inspected the flood situation in several areas to give moral support to the affected people and also to all officials working on the ground. He said that the relief efforts would unite Thais through compassion and generosity. The Cabinet has also approved funds for affected provinces to deal with the flood situation.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has set up a Crisis Management Center to receive complaints on the flood problem. More information can be obtained at the hotlines 1672 and 1155. A number of tourists have postponed and cancelled their trips to the Northeast, which has been affected by flooding.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has instructed its provincial offices to report daily on commodity prices to prevent the selling of products at exorbitant prices and shortages of necessary items, which would aggravate the situation. Complaints about exorbitant prices of consumer goods may be sent to the Department of Internal Trade or through the hotline 1569.