Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay (left) inspects the
plans and the progress of flood mitigation construction in Naklua.
Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya’s 8.9 million baht project to solve long-running flood problems in
Naklua’s Soi Kanrua boatyard district is entering the final stages, with key
construction expected to wrap within two weeks.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Sanitation Engineering Department staffers
inspected the progress of pipe installation, construction of concrete-steel
roads, and a reservoir-based drainage system May 26. Once complete, the new
system will send water directly into the Klong Plub drainage canal and out
into the sea, instead of through a backed-up maze of city drainage pipes.
Launched last July, the project was long opposed by area boatyards due to
the expected disruption to business. However, faced with flooding that
worsens each year, boat-repair and construction yards finally agreed to put
up with months of construction that forced them to reduce or suspend
business.
The project, initially launched for 8 million baht, was supposed to finish
six months ago. It called for contractors to dig a 1.5-meter-deep concrete
reservoir at Klong Plub near the Pattaya Water Pumping Station to catch
storm runoff, three reservoirs along Soi Kanrua, new 1.2-meter-wide drainage
pipes and repave the street with concrete.
As part of construction, some boatyards had to temporarily remove huge
concrete blocks used to drydock boats under service.
Verawat said the project is now nearly complete, with pipeline connections
expected to be finished in two weeks.
“The only remaining work is to connect pipes to the three reservoir tanks
that will become the center of water accumulation and will drain faster,”
the deputy mayor said. “Plus the reservoir nearest to the sea will help wash
out accumulated debris preventing blockage and increasing drainage
efficiency.”
Once the underground work is done, Verawat said, a new concrete road will be
paved through the area.
“I believe that installing pipes along Soi Kanrua will help efficiently
drain water as during heavy rainfall, water from the Old and New Naklua
markets can just drain from this area directly instead of having to
accumulate at other spots to head to the canal.”
