Chiang rai: PTT Public Company Limited has launched a significant initiative aimed at preventing landslides in northern Thailand, utilizing the planting of vetiver grass and bioengineering techniques to safeguard vulnerable areas.
According to Thai News Agency, the initiative comes in response to the devastation experienced by villages in the Wiang Pa Pao District of Chiang Rai, particularly in Ban Huai Hin Lat Nai, which suffered severe damage from flash floods and landslides late last year. The damage, described as the worst in the community's century-long history, affected homes, roads, and a local school, leaving residents anxious about future incidents.
The Green Globe Institute of PTT, in collaboration with Kasetsart University, has undertaken a research project focusing on the use of vetiver grass for landslide prevention. The project incorporates the royal philosophy of His Majesty the King, emphasizing the grass's deep root system, which can extend up to three meters, providing stability to soil structures. Additional measures include engineering innovations such as GC winged sacks, geotextile drainage sheets, and bamboo fences, all of which enhance soil integrity and prevent erosion.
Local villagers are integral to the project's implementation, with PTT facilitating their involvement in every stage of the process. The company also hosted a knowledge-sharing forum to educate government agencies and other stakeholders on these techniques, hoping to replicate the success in other regions prone to landslides.
Moreover, PTT has developed a LINE monitoring system for Huai Hin Lat Nai, which leverages radar and rainfall data from gauges installed in the village. This system, in collaboration with Kasetsart University, provides up to three days of rain forecasts and sends alerts when precipitation levels threaten to exceed safe thresholds. This proactive approach aims to significantly reduce potential losses from future landslides.