Bangkokbiz newspaper published “Water Management Holistic Concept; Urbanization EEC”, an article of the lecturer from faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
Article written by Mr. Katawut Waiyasusri, lecturer from Geography and Geo-informatics program, faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
“We can’t deny future changes.” It is certainly that Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is going to be appeared in the near future. The urbanization is rapidly expanding and multiple in the community area of Chachoengsao (Chachoengsao railway station junction), the suburb of eastern Chonburi- Bangsaen- Sriracha- Laem Chabang- Bang Lamung- Pattaya- Sattahip and the western area of Maptaphut in Rayong.
The urbanization in the area mentioned is going to be developed along with the infrastructure: transportation, industrial areas, business and trade areas, and residential buildings all around the area.
If there were the development without the consideration of water disaster management holistic concept, we would have seen floods in the areas annually. The same event happened in Bangkok when there was storm and accumulated heavy rain for a long time because the buildings and structures were built to block the watercourses. There will be violent accelerator and the surface runoff water mass if there is no effective drainage system.
As we could see from the flood on Chonburi - Ban Bueng road on September 24th, 2018. The flood at Sriracha on September 23rd, 2019, and the same event at Pattaya – Bang Lamung on May 3rd and September 17th,2019 etc. The flood happened annually because the geographical feature of coastal plain which has physical landscape of mountain ranges from the north to the south alternating with corrugated plains and slope to the west till the coast. It was noticed that the coastal plains around the city have no big drainage basin enough and without big drainage system. Some were blocked by the structures.
If we would like to solve flood problems concretely, we should study the watershed characteristic of the coastal basin along the eastern coast of EEC. Moreover, we have to find the ways to develop water source areas for example, by digging a canal to drain water into the sea as in Nong Yai Area Development Project according to the royal initiative in Chumphon and Utapao Canal Digging Project according to the royal initiative of King Rama IX in Hat Yai district. Both projects mentioned are defined as the ones that solve sustainable flooding problem. Area development of his majesty was consisted of the sea drainage canal and Kaem Ling for retaining water to use in the dry season. There should have been planned and set the policy framework to prevent and reduce damage from flash flood in EEC area. The information should have been set into spatial pattern for planning to have systematic land use and accommodate area changing in the future.
Source: Bangkokbiz newspaper, Tuesday 19th November, 2019.