River boat speed and weight limits enforced

A boat passes temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya on Saturday morning. (Photo by Sunthorn Pongpao)

AYUTTHAYA: Authorities are cracking down on speeding and overloading of boats travelling on the Chao Phraya, Noi and Pasak rivers during the flood period.

Rewat Prasong, the deputy governor of Ayutthaya, said the province had received complaints from people living along the river that speeding boats were churning up waves that made it even harder for them to reach homes that were already inundated.

He said heavy discharges from the Chao Phraya Dam had increased flows in the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers, leading to flooding in six districts. The Phra Ram VI Dam also was releasing a lot of water, causing the Pasak River to breach its banks in three districts.

The Ayutthaya office of the Marine Department has ordered all boats using the three rivers to travel at low speed and to not overload barges. They must also check the height between the water surface and bridges. Violators will face fines of up to 5,000 baht and risk having their permits suspended for six months.

Provincial authorities have conveyed the orders to groups representing operators of towed barges for goods transport, as well as those operating tourist boats, speed boats and jet skis for recreation.

Seven districts in Ayutthaya have been flooded and six have been declared disaster areas. A total of 25,454 households in the province have been inundated while 3,651 rai of farmland are under water. Two people have died because of flooding.