Bangkok governor insists on staying in office

BANGKOK, November 11 (TNA) - Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra has insisted that he will stay in office until he fulfils his term, dismissing reported calls from some members of his Democrat Party for him to resign. M.R. Sukhumbhand said that he would remain in office to relieve affected people’s hardships from the ongoing flooding in some areas of the capital, explaining that his party fielded him in the position and any member, or even any executive, of his party has no legal power to dismiss the Bangkok governor. M.R. Sukhumbhand acknowledged that inundations have been receding in western Bangkok and he expected big pumps to quickly drain floodwater from the city's western side into the sea through the Tha Chin River and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to repair 14 breached sluice gates by November 13 as scheduled to minimize upstream run-offs into the city's western area. The Bangkok governor then visited flood victims on Phetchakasem Road in the city's Bang Kae District, where floodwater has been slightly receding and some parts have now become dry, telling reporters that floodwater in Bang Phlad District has also been receding. According to the governor, flood expansion has slowed down in Bangkok and three districts in the city's western side have remained dry, including Rat Burana, Thung Khru and Klongsan. The governor affirmed if there were no more upstream run-offs, his Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) could drain floodwater from main roads within two weeks and from minor roads within one month. (TNA)