City Hall is to begin cleaning up nine major Bangkok canals by relocating about 200 families squatting along Klong Lat Phrao to clear the way for new boat services.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about this project.
The cabinet on February 24 gave approval for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to relocate families encroaching on nine major canals in the capital and demolish structures they have built. The BMA estimates that more than 10,000 families are encroaching along the nine canals.
Deputy Bangkok governor Adisak Khantee said on February 26 that the BMA would press ahead with the relocation process now that it has received the green light to clean up the canals.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The clean-up campaign is to pave the way for new boat services, improve irrigation and prevent flooding in the future, Adisak said. He added that cooperation from related agencies including the Interior Ministry’s Marine Department and Department of Lands is needed. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will also have to find new locations to rehouse the evicted families, Adisak said.
CANAL CAMPAIGN
Klong Lat Phrao will be the first canal targeted and developed so that the city can launch boat services to help alleviate traffic in the area, Adisak said. There are more than 200 families encroaching along the 23 kilometre Klong Lat Phrao stretching from Don Muang to Rama IX.
The other eight canals are Klong Prem Prachakorn, Klong Bang Khen, Klong Sam Wa, Klong Lat Bua Khao, Klong Phraya Montri, Klong Bang Sue, Klong Prawet Burirom and Klong Phra Khanong.
Exercises
Read the story and decide whether each of the following statements is true or false.
1. City Hall plans to clean up 90 major canals across the country.
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2. BMA stands for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
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3. Klong Prawet Burirom is located in Bangkok.
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4. The project was approved by the cabinet on February 4.
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Vocabulary
- encroach (v): to slowly begin to cover more and more of an area
demolish (v): to pull or knock down a building
green light (n): permission for a project, etc. to start or continue
irrigation (n): the process of supplying water to an area through pipes
rehouse (v): to provide somebody with a different home to live in
evict (v): to force somebody to leave a house or land, especially when you have the legal right to do so
alleviate (v): to make something less severe
