Trying to downplay the government's nightmare scenario for the capital and to lessen panic, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra invited 500 business leaders for an hour-long lecture at a hotel yesterday (Thursday) afternoon telling them that he finds it "inconceivable" that the whole of Bangkok would be heavily inundated to the point that the whole population will have to be evacuated.

"I respect the government's assessment but as the administrator [of Bangkok] I cannot accept such assessment," said Sukhumbhand. "I will limit the flood area as much as I could. Don't lose heart yet. I don't think the flood's severity in Bangkok will be evenly spread... Do not panic. We will keep monitoring all the time and our works are second to none.

"At this stage, there's no indication that all districts in Bangkok will be flooded heavily," he said, referring to the government's and other experts predictions that one metre of flood could hit many parts of Bangkok if not more.

Sukhumbhand made a light joke however saying that water is unpredictable, like a 'lady'.  "Sometimes water just disappear but then it can also just re-appear. I'm not trying to be provocative but only fortune tellers can know for certain. Will the water reach central Bangkok or not? I don't know."

Sukhumbhand said the Yingluck Shinawatra government will have to make a "strategic decision" on how to handle the encroaching water from the north which is outside the jurisdiction of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and that Bangkok will accept it. He also later told reporters that he's also worried about water pushing out from drainage pipe at homes and on the streets.

Admitting that the amount of water approaching Bangkok is "most unprecedented", Sukhumbhand added however that Bangkok has never been more equipped to deal with excess water in its entire history with a combined 6,000 kilometre of drainage pipe, 158 water pumping stations, 21 water catchments and more than 200 sluice gates, amongst others. There're seven giant water tunnels with a diametre of 5 metres and a capacity to drain 155 cubic metres of water per second.

The governor admitted however that these measures are not adequate to cope with the flood that is expected to become critical in the coming days, particularly over this weekend. He admitted that he wishes to raise the flood barriers along Chao Phraya river further by 10 centimetres but that would require another 10 million sand bags which is not possible to obtain at this stage or have it done within the next two to three days.  

After Sukhumbhand left, a few outspoken business leaders made it clear that they were not convinced, however.

Chai Srivikrom, president of the Rajprasong Business Operators Association and owner of Gaysorn Plaza luxury mall, one of the Central Business District (CBD) in Bangkok, took the microphone and said he became more "worried" after listening.

Chai said foreigners ask him if it's safe to travel to Bangkok but he couldn't provide a clear answer.

"How long will the flood water remains? A month for a metre deep flood water? How will people survive? Does BMA have any system to distribute food and look after people's health, sanitation plus safety?" asked Chai, adding that he has a friend at the now-flooded Muang Ake residential estate in Pathum Thani who fled and now the friend's home is occupied by uninvited guests using their house and everything else.

"Whether the water will be high or not, this is like the stock market."

Another woman from the audience who did not identify herself sounded even more frustrated on the microphone.

"What if the worst-case scenario happens? What will happen if the BMA doesn't prepare for the worst? Is your prediction based on old information? How many hundreds of thousands army truck will be needed? It's impossible."