Phuket Gov checks on work to clean up Bang Tao canal

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Gov checks on work to clean up Bang Tao canal
Suthicha Sirirat

The quality of the water in the klong has improved, but is still far from perfect – file photo from July 2013.

PHUKET: Still unable to use his office at Provincial Hall because of anti-giovernment protesters, Governor Maitree Inthusut has been spending time in the open air, visiting government projects around the island.

On Friday afternoon (January 17) he and Ma-Ann Samran, President of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), went to check progress on construction of a stone embankment along the klong at the south end of Bang Tao Bay.

The wall is being built to prevent erosion and constriction of the klong, allowing rain water to flow freely into the bay and preventing flooding.

After inspecting progress, Gov Maitree said, “We have asked for a budget of B15 million from the Provincial Development Strategy Department [PDSD]. The total length of wall will be 1,600 meters [800 meters on each side].

“The 25-metre head of the emabnkment is complete. It cost B200,000 and was paid for by OrBorTor Cherng Talay. The walls will be extended further by 300 metres so that the klong reaches the sea [instead of water flowing onto the each].

“The cost of completing the project over its entire length will be B15 million. We expect to be able to begin construction by March.

“This is the first project funded by budget from the PDSD. We proposed it to the government because local residents have complained about flooding and wastewater. So we will keep pursuing the project until the problems have been fixed’’

Mr Ma-Ann said, “The community suffers from floods, wastewater and canal bank erosion. We shoukd, be able to finish construction within six months, once the preparatory work is complete.

“We will also repair the road with B2.8 million from the province and B600,000 from us.”

Neither official mentioned how the problem of canalside residents and businesses dumping untreated wastewater into the canal is being addressed.

In July last year these people were given a “final warning” by Vice-Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak to stop polluting the klong with untreated sewage.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-gov-checks-on-work-to-clean-up-bang-tao-canal-44101.php

-- Phuket News 2014-01-19