Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas explained that workers were dispatched each day to clear waste in ditches and drains at various locations throughout the Phuket City Municipality area.
In addition, Waste and Sewage Management workers from Phuket City Municipality’s Engineering Office had been dispatched to clear out all the near the pumping station at the end of Bang Yai Canal.
“We are still driving our continuous surveillance, prevention and management of water situations in the Phuket Municipality area by assigning officials to the go to areas to eliminate waste that may contribute to flooding,” Mayor Saroj said.
“In addition, teams of workers from the Phuket City Municipality Public Health and Environment Division are being assigned to maintain cleanliness throughout the area by cut grass and spray and clean various roads. This provides convenience to the people and takes care of cleanliness and increases the beauty of various places within the Phuket Municipality area as well,” he said.
Phuket City Municipality early last month launched a project to help alleviate and prevent flooding in Soi Pha-niang, Samkong. The area gained notoriety for repeatedly flooding and endangering people’s homes with each heavy downpour throughout the past rainy season.
Efforts to prevent flooding in Phuket Town were ramped up during the rainy season this year, with special focus on monitoring the water level in Bang Yai Canal, which runs through the heart of the town.
Several times through the rainy season this year the water level in the canal rose to worrying heights, prompting officials to have emergency services on 24-hour standby and deploying pumps throughout the town to displace rainfall runoff.
During a visit to Phuket by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in August, Phuket City Mayor Saroj explained to PM Srettha the need to expedite projects to help prevent and alleviate flooding in Phuket Town.
Doing so would help improve the area’s economic performance and improve Phuket Town’s image as a tourism destination, he said.
Mayor Saroj has already presented a drainage system construction project costing B226 million to help protect the Phuket Old Town area from repeated flooding.