Phuket flooding: Mayor Pian fights back

PATONG, PHUKET: Patong Mayor Pian Keesin has launched an ambitious program of public works in a bid to prevent a repeat of the flooding that deluged Phuket’s premier resort town during last year’s monsoon season.

Mayor Pian said he guaranteed that the four projects underway would be complete before the rains start this year.

“I’m not saying there will be no more flooding in Patong, but compared to last year I’m sure the situation will be much better,” he said.

One project aims to prevent the return of the sardonically named ‘Nanai River’, a 50-meter stretch of Nanai Road which spent much of last year’s wet season under three feet of water.

The size of the inundation varied with rainfall but generally stretched from the Aroonpat Village housing estate to the Chang Residence Hotel.

Around 200 meters of drainpipe will be laid along the side of the road in order to siphon floodwater into the nearby Pak Lak Canal.

Mayor Pian said a tender process for the four-million-baht project was currently underway.

“It won’t take more than two months to finish construction,” he said.

A second project last week saw two pumps installed in the canal beside Patong Hospital, which was also the site of flooding last year.

Mayor Pian explained that the pumps would speed up the passage of water through the canal.

In a third project, drainpipes are being laid underneath Phang Muang Sai Kor Road, the new road running north-south behind Jungceylon.

One section, which was completed on Wednesday, will direct water from behind Jungceylon, under the road and past JJ Market Phase 2.

A second section, which is now underway, will direct water from the same place to Patong’s wastewater treatment plant.

“Laying another line will double the water drainage,” said Mayor Pian.

Finally, Pak Bang Canal will be dredged and widened to increase the amount of water it can direct into the sea.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan