Bangkok Governor Denies Canceling Monkey Cheek Projects

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has firmly addressed public controversy surrounding the alleged cancellation of flood retention basin projects, confirming that the administration has no plans to scrap the royal initiative. He explained that technical constraints and private land ownership in designated areas require careful deliberation rather than outright abandonment.

The clarification was delivered on October 1, 2026, at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The Bangkok Governor elaborated on the five flood management guidelines bestowed by the late King, which include constructing water barriers, building shortcut channels and drainage tunnels, improving canal networks, setting up dykes, and establishing water retention basins known as monkey cheeks.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Explaining the mechanics of monkey cheek basins, Chadchart noted that they require designated storage areas with efficient inlet and outlet systems to capture excess water during peak flows and release it safely afterward. Following comprehensive studies across various potential sites in Bangkok after the massive 2011 floods, officials discovered significant limitations regarding physical space and drainage infrastructure, with much of the land falling under private ownership.

The Governor pointed out that proceeding with the project in its original format on those specific sites would require enormous financial resources for land expropriation and infrastructure development. Preliminary estimates indicate that expropriation costs alone would exceed 11 billion baht, necessitating alternative technical approaches tailored to the reality of the terrain.