Phuket
Phuket wastewater won’t stink

KAMALA: Residents in Kamala were informed at a public hearing on July 7 that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report needed to build a 350-million-baht battery of underground wastewater treatment facilities is now complete.
The project only needs final approval from the provincial review board and funding to move forward.
Kamala Deputy Mayor Santi Auttasup chaired the final public hearing, required as part of the EIA review process.
The event was held at the offices of the Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (TAO). Also attending were Kamala TAO council members and about 20 local residents.
Explaining the 1.5-million-baht EIA report was Assoc Prof Sittichai Tantanasarit, who headed up the Kasetsart University consulting team that carried out the six-month study.
Kamala currently produces about 3,200 cubic meters (m3) of wastewater a day but has no municipal wastewater treatment system, said Dr Sittichai.
The only wastewater treatment systems currently in operation in Kamala are at hotels, where they are mandated by law, the EIA report noted.
The EIA also highlighted the need for the project given the rising population in the area.
The wastewater project will cater to 5,802 registered residents, an estimated 5,000 more unregistered residents, and some 20,000 tourists on average, according to the researchers.
It was not explained how the tourist figure was arrived at, however.
Kamala has just 1,821 rooms in 34 accommodation establishments, according to the latest figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The actual population of Kamala is increasing 4.7% annually on average, according to the report. This was compared with the national average increase of 0.6% a year and Phuket’s current population growth of 3.4% annually.
Unlike Patong, which has one large wastewater treatment facility, the plan for the Kamala system is for seven small treatment sites, all underground.
Units are proposed at the following locations:
“This underground system does not require the OrBorTor to acquire private land and it is easier to maintain than one large system,” Dr Sittichai said.
The plan calls for all seven units to be completed within about three years from the start of construction.
Ninety percent of funding would come from either the Thai Khem Kaeng (Strong Thailand) financial stimulus package or through a loan from the Thai Environmental Corporation Foundation.
The remaining 10% would be funded by the Kamala OrBorTor.
Kamala Deputy Mayor Santi Auttasup said, “We have already applied to receive three budget allotments under Thai Khem Kaeng. The first is 350 million baht for this wastewater system. There is also 400 million baht for a water reservoir to be built on Getnee Hill and 20 million baht for improvements to Klong Naka.
“If the EIA process is finished within this fiscal budget quarter [before Sept 30], we will append it to the budget application we have already filed in order to try and get funding under this year’s budget,” he said.
Although the villagers present all agreed with the project, some voiced concern about the prospect of foul, stinking odors emanating from the treatment facilities.
To this, Dr Sittichai explained that the centers will use ‘wet scrubbers’.
“It makes only a slight smell or no smell at all,” he said.
— Pimwara Choksakulpan
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Chiang Mai
Tourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half

The TAT, ever the optimists regarding anything tourism related, even domestic tourism, predict that the Bangkok clusters that have emerged in the week before the Songkran break could reduce traffic and spending by up to half.
Today the CCSA is reporting 789 new infections and one additional death. 522 were local infections, mostly walk-ins to Bangkok hospitals, 259 were discovered through track and tracing. The remaining 8 were found in quarantine from overseas arrivals. In Phuket, another 17 cases have been reported today, taking the island’s week total to 43.
GRAPH: Worldometer figures for Thailand, up to April 9
A 68 year old man from Nakhon Pathom province died on April 4 but wasn’t reported until today. The CCSA report that he died from Covid and “complications”. 33 other former patients have recovered and been discharged.
Last week the TAT estimated 3.2 million domestic trips would circulate 12 billion baht for the Thai economy. But the Tourism Authority has now slashed their estimates by half after hotels, airlines and bus companies reported mass cancellations in the last few days. Other provinces are reporting less than 20% cancellations. Although this weekend will see a lot of travel, Songkran doesn’t formally start until next Tuesday and the TAT expect there could be additional fallout as travellers decide to have a staycation for Songkran instead heading home.
Bangkok Post reports that 70% of travellers to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Hua Hin have already cancelled hotel bookings. Similar cancellations have been reported in Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Many other provinces, particularly in the north east and north, are also enforcing quarantine on arrivals or additional paperwork to try and protect their provinces from any of the Bangkok clusters.
8 north eastern provinces rare now requiring 10 or 14 day quarantine periods for anyone arriving from areas where new clusters have been reported. Chiang Mai provincial officials say that tourists from Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi – basically Bangkok and surrounding provinces – must complete a 14 day mandatory quarantine or conduct a test for Covid when they arrive.
The reality is that the travel and quarantine changes are outstripping the ability to communicate them all. Anyone crossing into other provinces in the next few day, especially if you’re travelling from Bangkok and surrounding provincial ‘red zones’ can expect some additional paperwork or a Covid test. Or even quarantine.
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Education
Phuket student protests and is flunked as “not loyal to the nation”

After participating in protests for student’s rights, a Phuket student was barred from graduating 9th grade, moving from middle school to high school, charged with being “not loyal to the nation, institution of the monarchy”. The student had advocated against mandatory uniforms and for student’s liberties. He told reporters that the school started paying attention to his actions last year when he participated in rallies in solidarity with students across Thailand. The school’s student affairs office received a copy of posts he made on social media encouraging others to join the cause. The school ordered a stop to his political actions, but he and his friends disregarded warnings and violated school rules when they handed out white ribbons to classmates. They received a warning from the student affairs office.
Student protests have increased after pro-democracy demonstrations surged in July last year, empowering many Thai people to speak out against injustices, including students’ rights and liberties. People from schools across the nation have been banding together in solidarity to bring their issues to public light.
On graduation day, all the students were promoted into high school, except for the one student protestor, says the Bad Student protest group. The theme of the day focused on dedication to the monarchy, country and religion, and specifically how students should be obedient. The student said he has received support from friends, but his parents remain neutral and his teachers have been completely silent on the matter. He is frustrated that he was punished for his right to express himself. He plans on testing with incoming students to re-enrol in the same school, and if he is not accepted because of the disloyalty charge, he will pursue legal ramifications, suing the school for blocking his right to an education over the student’s protests.
The student believes he needs to speak out to prevent school administrators from imposing on more students’ rights. He advocates for diversity in schools and ending prejudices, with increased liberties and freedoms for students.
“Schools must teach children to be able to think by themselves, not force children to think like them. Schools should create opportunities for students to express their ideas more freely.”
SOURCE: Prachatai
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
16 more Covid infections reported today in Phuket

Phuket is reporting 16 more infections today. It follows visits from Bangkok and last weekend’s Kolour Beachside parties that have resulted in a number of new Covid infections. The number of new infections has reached 26. But deputy governor Vikrom Jakthee says the province has been successful in containing the new outbreak “due to its quick response measures which now include shuttering bars and nightlife venues.
One of the confirmed cases is a male teacher from Headstart International School in Kathu who, after attending the parties on the weekend, was back teaching students on Monday and Tuesday. The school has sent a letter to all parents advising them of the situation and organising testing for anyone who may have come in contact with the teacher.
The closure order in Phuket comes just as the island province was expecting to get an influx of visitors for Songkran, the Thai New Year. Many bar and club owners were expecting some increased traffic during the holiday week. Phuket officials say they will explain to bar and club owners why they decided to close the venues during the critical week for business.
Vikrom previously cited the start of the island’s Covid vaccine roll-out of Covid starting to head towards a herd immunity in time for the province’s proposed July reopening to international tourists. But he admitted that the sudden appearance of the coronavirus on the island again will force officials to reevaluate the schedule for reopening. He also said that almost all cases were in younger age groups of people in their 20s and 30s.
Partygoers who went to any of the Kolour Beachside parties in Phuket last weekend are being asked to visit a local hospital for a Covid test. The parties hosted more than 3,000 people, drawing concern after a musician tested positive for Covid-19, having attended all 3 parties. The Phuket Provincial Government and Phuket Provincial Public Health Office released a statement yesterday advising all partygoers to get tested.
“Those who attended the Kolour parties from April 2 to 3 at Shelter Phuket Dance & Night Club in Patong, Cafe Del Mar Phuket in Kamala and Illuzion nightclub on Bangla Road in Patong are asked to get tested.”
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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