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Pattaya hopes to cut flooding problem off at source
Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya officials have decided the best way to solve the city’s chronic
flooding problem is to cut off the water at the source.
Reviewing the final draft of flood-control “master plan” prepared by
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Pattaya Permanent
Secretary Pakorn Sukhonthachat said researchers from the college’s
Center for Water Engineering and Infrastructure Research have concluded
that the first step in their nine-year, 10 billion baht plan has to be
the diversion of storm runoff from higher ground in Nongprue, Nong
Plalai, and Nong Krabok.
“We have to start the construction of an efficient water-drainage system
at the railroad because of the amount of water that comes from other
areas,” Pakorn said.
“We have decided to divert the water along the entire railroad to other
areas, preventing water from entering the city,” Pakorn said, adding
plans also call for construction of a reservoir to collect runoff before
it is pumped into drainage canals that empty into the sea.
The secretary said he’d suggest that Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
approve the purchase of land to dig the reservoir and expand existing
reservoirs around the railroad tracks and install water pumps to funnel
storm runoff to the Suaphaew and Huay Yai canals.
The draft master plan - which came together in just a month - is aimed
at developing a water-drainage and flood-management plan to solve
perennial flooding in the Soi Buakaow, Soi Phettrakul, Pacific Village,
Soi Bongkot, Soi Wat Thamsamakkee and Thepprasit Villa neighborhoods.
The solution researchers came up with is neither cheap or quick: Split
into three phases, the project is expected to cost 10.2 billion baht and
take at least nine years to complete.
In addition to the railroad-area work, the plan calls for a 7.79 billion
baht water-drainage system anchored by pumping stations in nine areas of
the city. The third phase would be the construction of a dam behind
Ekamongkol Village at Soi Khao Talo 7 and 7/1 at a total cost of 1.97
billion baht.
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