The tour came after the town was badly flooded 24 hours before.
They found that both storm drains and the klong were choked with mud and garbage, restricting flow and causing the klong to overflow.
Mayor Chalermlak was also told that some of the pipes to carry storm water to the klong had sharp angles in them, which collected debris, while others were smaller than the ideal size.
“In the past, before Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd was built, there used to be a water catchment area from which water could flow through the klong to the sea. There was also a pumping station in case of flooding,” Mayor Chalermluck said.
“But when the road construction project began, the pump was removed.
“I also found that the pipes under ground connect in a zigzag way, which means water cannot flow smoothly."
In one place, she said, the straight line of the main storm drain is blocked, so the contractor dodged around the obstruction with a dogleg with two right-angle bends. "How can it flow when it's raining?” she asked.
Construction continues, and Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd has become a soap opera with cranes falling onto buildings, holes full of water deep enough to swallow motorbikes and a road surface that often resembles a tank proving ground.
But, says Mayor Chalermluk, “I can't do anything because this is an old contract awarded by the previous mayor [Pian Keesin] and they have rejected any suggestions made by me.”
So for the time being, the Mayor is proposing to solutions, one short-term and one longer-term.
“The short-term solution is canal and storm drain dredging. Patong Municipality is already dredging the Wang Khee On canal and the Bang Wad canal, and we will continue on to Rat-U-Thit-200-Pi Rd and Taweewong Rd, using two vacuum tankers,” she said.
“The Phuket Office of Rural Roads (ORR) will take responsibility for Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd. I ordered them to do this three months ago, but nothing has been done yet,” she added.
Teeraporn Jirarattanakorn, director of the ORR was repeatedly asked today whether he would take the job on. He said, "Okay, I'll do it."
A long-term solution would be a three-metre-wide area either side of the canal to allow excavators in to dig out the canal, but many buildings have been constructed with their walls right next to the canal.
“In fact, by law, no building may be closer than three meters from a canal. So we will be issuing orders for work on buildings currently under construction too close to the canal to be stopped and for structures that breach the three-metre rule to be removed within 37 days."
The owners of the already completed Nara Grandeur hotel and associated buildings have been ordered to move out, but the 37-day notice has long expired, with no action taken.
“Seven complaints – including one about the Nara Grandeur hotel -- have been filed with Kathu Police," Superintendent Pol Col Chiraphat Pochanaphan confirmed.
Mayor Chalermlak named the owners of the building as "Kantanara" and "Maneesri", adding that Kantanara, originally from Nong Khai, is well known in Patong " Jae (sister) Boom".
“I would like to urge business owners in Patong to pay attention to the [needs of the] community. If everyone does things only for their own benefit, it could have a huge effect on the image of Patong,” she said.
Asked about immediate help for residents affected by flooding, the mayor says she is considering the matter.
“We haven't received any complaints, and no one has asked for help, so it may be they have become used to this kind of situation,” she concluded.
The Phuket Marine Office will inspect the three-metre area along canals in Patong tomorrow to detect infringements.