Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Korean Water Resources Corporation, also known as K-Water, has expressed confidence in its ability to conduct water management projects in Thailand.
Read the following story from Bangkok Post to learn about how the company proposes to conduct their flooding prevention system in Thailand.
The South Korean firm, which has won two modules of the government’s 350 billion baht water-management scheme, stressed it would apply its experience in handling development projects in South Korea to those in Thailand.
FIRM FINDINGS
Lee Han-goo, river and water resources director of K-Water’s Southeast Asia Department, said the firm’s initial findings suggest that Thai projects have similar structures to the company’s development projects on the Nakdong, Han, Geum and Yeongsan rivers in South Korea.
Development plans used for the four rivers will be adopted as key models in managing the Chao Phraya River basin so that Thailand can reap the maximum benefit from the projects, Lee said.
Lee made the comments to Thai journalists as they toured K-Water’s water management projects in South Korea. He also said that K-Water will analyse geographic data, including aerial and satellite photos to specify the water retention areas in Thailand.
COSTLY PROJECTS
The water containment areas will prevent future flooding in industrial and economic areas, as well as store water for irrigation during the dry season, according to Lee.
K-Water was selected to handle flood retention areas under Module A3 for 10 billion baht, as well as floodway construction along the Chao Phraya River under Module A5 for 153 billion baht.
WATER WAYS
Lee said the major floods in 2011 stemmed from narrow water channels, so they must be expanded to increase water flow to the sea. He also recommended that Thailand set up a single command centre to integrate water management information.
PUBLIC PLACE
K-Water also plans to build a water museum similar to the one it built on the Gyeong dyke on South Korea’s Ara waterway to educate the public about the water management project. The museum will also serve as a recreational venue. Lee said the company will encourage locals along the project’s waterways to get involved in water management.
Exercises
Read the story. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. K-Water is a Japanese organisation. …………………………..
2. Lee Han-goo is an executive of K-Water’s Southeast Asia Department. …………………………..
3. The Yeongsan River is located in North Korea. …………………………..
4. According to the article, K-Water doesn’t believe that they can conduct water management projects in Thailand. …………………………..
Vocabulary
- reap (v): to obtain something, especially something good, as a direct result of something that you have done
aerial (adj): from a plane
stem from (phrasal v): to be the result of something
integrate (v): to combine two or more things so that they work together
recreational (adj): connected with activities that people do for enjoyment when they are not working
