Thailand is blessed with a knowledgeable and sagacious monarch who has personally conceived, nurtured and supported more than 3,000 royal innovation projects intended to benefit the well-being of each and every devotedly loyal subject, setting an inspiring example for one and all. One of His Majesty the King’s most impressive ideological contributions to help solve the complex problems related to flood management is known as the Monkey’s Cheek (Kaem Ling). Based on childhood memories, His Majesty observed that most monkeys, when given bananas, first store them in their mouths, then gradually chew and swallow them. This metaphorical model, intended to help alleviate the annual monsoon season overflow, aims to temporarily store excessive levels of rising water during heavy rains and afterwards, draining canals and water gates, flushing excess out to the sea.
Suggested strategic options to control flooding in Bangkok and up-country have mainly focused on building more dikes to prevent overflow, enlarging existing canals, digging up new ones and constructing reservoirs at various chosen sites where appropriate. In 1995/2538, the initial experimental Monkey’s Cheek project was successfully undertaken in Thonburi, and subsequently replicated in dozens of provinces. Presently, the likelihood of extreme rainfall and severe weather disasters has been significantly increased by rising greenhouse gas levels related to Climate Change, causing havoc to predicted expectations, and calling for adjustment to nature-related conditions and accommodation to rapidly evolving contemporary Information Technology demands.
- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/mailbag/kaem-ling-monkey-s-cheek-7827#sthash.Szfsy3de.dpuf