About 5,000 people clean venue for UNDV 2012

BANGKOK, December 11 (TNA) - About 5,000 people, including military officials, on Sunday joined hands in cleaning the Buddha Monthol complex in Bangkok’s neighbouring province of Nakhon Pathom while it is expected that the revered place would be completely dried the next 10 days. Parts of the complex are still under 70 centimetres of floodwater but the polluted water did not deter the strong determination of faithful Buddhists from cleaning the complex in an attempt to restore the giant Buddha statue. Presiding over at the cleaning event was Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Surawit Khonsomboon. He said floodwater as high as 70 centimetres is still clogging around the compound of Buddha Monthol and the water is expected to dry within the next 10 days. ‘Big Cleaning Day’ at the complex can be held before New Year’s Eve, Surawit said, adding that there is no plan to pump out water from the complex as it might affect people living near it. About 100 water pumps are now installed there as floodwater receded about four centimeters a day while there are hopes that floodwater remaining inside the complex could recede automatically if the water at the compound is lowered. Nopparat Benjawatananun, Director of Office of National Buddhism, said damages from flood at Buddha Monthol are estimated at 800 million baht. Out of the total, damages inflicted on public utility and the IT system which are installed underground are worth about 100 million baht. Repairs on them must be made immediately after the place is dry as Thailand will host the international celebrations of United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) along with the 2600 years anniversary of Enlightenment by Lord Buddha. The celebrations will be held next June and Buddha Monthol will be the venue of holding the events, he said. (TNA)