City officials inspect storm
drains in Naklua as workers use heavy equipment to clear them of debris that
might inhibit water flow during heavy rainfall.
Phasakorn Channgam
Faced with predictions of several more weeks of rain, top Pattaya
officials checked the progress of clearing of storm drains intended to
handle storm runoff and prevent flooding.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Sanitation
Department Director Virat Jiraphaithun walked the streets inspecting the
drains near the Old Naklua Market Oct. 3.
Itthiphol noted that the area often is inundated by storm runoff, but
maintained that the city has completed similar flood-control work in 15
Pattaya neighborhoods, including Soi Buakaow, Soi Bongkot, Thamsamakkee
Temple, behind Mareewit School and elsewhere.
City workers are clearing sand, wood, stones and other obstacles to water
flow. “When the work is done, drainage from the head to end of the system
will work efficiently during heavy and continuous rainfall,” the mayor
promised.
Itthiphol said the city has requested a 20 million baht budget to purchase
pumps, replace drain covers and other equipment. He added that the city’s
previously automatic three main pumps have been switched to manual mode,
allowing workers to turn on pumps any time rain falls for more than 15
minutes.
