Thailand's capital should be moved to the north-east, says top scientist

[BangkokHearts]

The Nation/Asia News Network
Sunday, Feb 05, 2012
Dr Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya, a former scientist at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), has called for the relocation of Thailand's capital to the Northeast.
Speaking at a seminar on climate change, natural disasters, and the future of Thailand, Art-ong said Bangkok is sinking every year because of the rising sea level.
Citing the rising amount of rainfall and the rising dam water level in 2010 and 2011, he said the trend will worsen in 2012 and in coming years, so authorities have to increase efficiency in draining the excess water into the sea.
Regarding the capital, he said, far-sighted leaders should consider relocating out of Bangkok, which has been the country's capital for more than 200 years, to a higher ground such as one of the 16 northeastern provinces.
Relocation of the capital will take at least 20 years and a brand-new capital should be built as Bangkok will face difficulties in managing excess water in the next seven or eight years.

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120205-325945.html

[OZEMADE]

They will just keep kicking the tin along for a lot of years yet. The place is known as the Venice of Asia now and yes it is sinking. They will eventually have to move the capitol at great expense. It amasing how many have already moved and how many have bought land around Pattaya as it's close to the International Airport and is the most central place to the rest of Thailand. it's also boasting the biggest shopping centre in Thailand as well, Central Festival Plaza on Pattaya Beach. Home prices are going up. The floods never effected here much from what I was told and it's also on the main shipping lane Lam Chabang.

[bkkandrew]

Pattaya - the new capital of Thailand. How appropriate...