The Thai Sang Thai Party urges the Bangkok governor to reconsider the new city master plan draft, pointing out that cutting flood storage ('monkey cheeks') and eliminating water flow paths significantly increase the permanent flood risk in Bangkok.
On 5 Nov 2026, the Thai Sang Thai Party's executive team, led by Deputy Leader Rojanint Siribenyaphirom and Party Director Narong Rungthanawong, along with party executives and deputy spokespeople, were authorized by former party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, representing Bangkok residents and stakeholders, to submit a letter opposing and requesting a review of the “Bangkok Metropolitan Master Plan (4th Revision)” at Bangkok City Hall.
The Thai Sang Thai Party expressed serious concerns about water management and flood prevention, noting that the new master plan draft neglects the critical elements of flood prevention: flood storage areas ('monkey cheeks') and water flow paths (Flood Ways). This oversight is a grave error that, if uncorrected, will greatly increase the risk of permanent flooding for Bangkok residents.
Khunying Sudarat stated in the complaint letter that her extensive experience in addressing Bangkok's flood issues and implementing King Rama IX’s royal initiative—starting with the first flood storage project at "Makkasan Pond" and expanding to "Nong Bon Pond"—has proven effective in flood mitigation. Bangkok is a basin area where draining water to the sea is difficult, especially during high tides. Therefore, having 'water storage areas' to wait for water levels to recede is essential. Without these, floodwaters will inundate homes, particularly in older housing estates and traditional communities that are not elevated, such as Khlong Chan Flats, Romklao Flats, Sports Village, and Cooperative Village.
She also highlighted a misunderstanding in Bangkok's engineering approach, which plans to replace flood storage with canal expansion and giant tunnels. She emphasized that these "giant tunnels" act like straws to transport water, while "monkey cheeks" function as containers to hold water. Without adequate storage containers, the six existing giant tunnels cannot operate at full capacity, as is evident today.
Moreover, the new master plan draft alarmingly reduces and cuts water flow areas (Flood Ways), represented as green-striped zones, on both the eastern and western sides. On the east, the area is reduced from 100,000 rai (240 sq km) to just 30,000 rai (50 sq km), despite being a low-lying area receiving floodwaters from Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok. On the west (Thonburi side), which must handle floodwaters from Nonthaburi, there are no Flood Way areas remaining in the draft.
The Thai Sang Thai Party therefore calls on the Bangkok governor to urgently review and amend the 4th revision of the master plan as follows:
1. Adopt the royal initiative of the flood storage project to survey and secure as much flood storage area as possible, with a minimum of 6 million cubic meters.
2. Strictly preserve the water flow areas (Flood Ways) or green-striped zones on both the east and west sides.
3. Prohibit any rezoning changes that favor real estate or commercial development if such changes obstruct natural water flow, ensuring the safety and well-being of Bangkok residents sustainably.
The party invites affected citizens to submit petitions to amend, change, or repeal provisions of the Bangkok Metropolitan Master Plan (4th Revision), which can be submitted until 9 Nov 2026.
