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Mayor confident city can handle flooding during rainy season
Mayor Niran
Watthanasartsathorn is confident that the city can handle floods during this
year’s rainy season.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn says that Pattaya City Council has spent
10 million baht cleaning out the drainage pipes as part of the measures
being taken to prevent flooding during the rainy season this year.
Other measures include raising the ground level in areas that are habitually
affected by floodwaters.
“Pattaya City Council has been raising the ground level in vulnerable areas
and laying large drainage pipes into the sea in many areas,” said Niran. “In
the future the city plans to use computer simulations to measure the ground
and water levels in order to set out long-term plans to remedy the flooding
problem.”
Mayor Niran added that flooding affects four main areas in Pattaya, namely
Wat Thamsamakee, South Pattaya, Soi Taeng Mo and in front of Kasikorn Bank
in Naklua.
Pattaya City Council has sent out officials to drain off the water in these
areas as preliminary assistance and the city has spent 10 million baht on
cleaning out drainage pipes throughout Pattaya.
City hall is in the process of hiring private companies to help with the
flood relief during the upcoming rainy season. Officials have also been
instructed to clean out drainage tanks in preparation.
City hall quashes rumors that Naklua vendors will lose their places
Narisa Nitikarn
More than a hundred Naklua Market vendors descended on Pattaya City
Hall on May 22 after hearing disturbing rumors that they would not be
able to take up their previous business areas in the new market building
and that they might be replaced by new vendors.
 Deputy
Mayor Verawat Khakhay says, “Don’t believe the rumors.”
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay met with the vendors and explained that
nothing had changed since the previous meeting on May 16. The vendors
will have their same place of business, or at least near where they were
before. City hall will use the same form of space allocation as before,
so no one need be afraid that they wouldn’t receive the same location.
Verawat urged the traders not to listen to rumors, and said if there are
any problems they should contact officials directly.
If someone is sub-leasing a location, they must register with Pattaya
City so no one is taken advantage of, he added. City hall will
distribute the real lease to the correct vendor at the location.
Concerning the construction period of the new building, it must be
extended because the plan needs to be readjusted, including requiring
the official system of approval.
City hall will contact all cooperative partnership vendors to confirm
that they still have the same location. Verawat also proposed hiring a
manager for the New Naklua Market, to look after the water and power
bills and to act as representative for all of the vendors.
City goes down the drain ahead of rainy season
Clean-up aimed at reducing floods
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Recent rains in the region have caused flooding in parts of Pattaya and
Jomtien, destroying property and creating havoc on the roads. As part of a
pre-emptive operation, city administrators carried out a clean up of the
drains along Jomtien Beach Road on May 22.
 City
employees hard at work cleaning out the Dongtan drainage system.
City councilors from electorate 4 were on hand to oversee the cleaning
operations as city engineers and staff flushed and dug out copious amounts
of soil and rubbish clogging a 1-kilometer stretch from the Dongtan Corner.
Amnuai Somphongtham, Pattaya City Councilor who supervised the operation
said there had been a lot of rain throughout May, which caused flooding in
many communities as well as along traffic routes.
“This has created other problems such as traffic jams and road accidents. As
a result the Pattaya administration has organized the relevant department to
begin clearing out storm water drains around the city, in preparation for
the rainy season,” he said.
The Jomtien Beach area has been targeted first due to its popularity among
local residents and tourists. The recent rains have caused the area to flood
with water flowing onto the beach from the roadside due to a build up of
soil, sand and rubbish in the drains.
“City engineers have reported that because of the heavy rains and constant
build up of water the road surface has dropped in some areas and a number of
potholes have appeared,” said Amnuai. “As a result of this, there is a
danger of an increase in the number of road accidents. The city is therefore
in the process of looking at resurfacing the road in the Dongtan area.”
Amnuai also revealed that the road resurfacing would be carried out in the
future using concrete to aid in the prevention of further potholes and
better allow water to flow into the drainage system.
City Scope: City hall has extensive plans for South Pattaya car parks
Mayor Niran
Watthanasartsathorn (holding microphone) led a team of city administrators
and members of Pattaya City Council Distinct 4 to record the fourth city
administrators and Pattaya City Council meets the public session.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn on May 17 led a team of city hall
administrators and members of Pattaya City Council to Wat Chaimongkol in
South Pattaya for the fourth in the series of Meet the Public sessions.
Four communities from within Pattaya City Council Distinct 4 attended the
meeting, namely Wat Bunkanchanaram, Soi Korpai, Wat Chaimongkol and
Thappraya. The program enables administrators to meet the grassroots of
society and answer questions the public may have.
Niran said that District 4 is a main economic district of the city,
encompassing South Pattaya and Walking Street, which attracts more than 5
million domestic and international visitors annually.
Mrs Nantana Chuojaem, who lives in Walking Street, complained that she and
her family were being disturbed by the noise coming from one of the
entertainment venues in the street. She added that she had once complained
to the police, but the issue has not been resolved. She said that the
entertainment center wasn’t the only cause of her woes, as there are also
loud noises emitting from many stalls selling music tapes and CDs. She added
that she was also worried about cleanliness.
The mayor and District 4 administrators will study all complaints and
coordinate efforts to resolve them. Cleanliness is the responsibility of the
Walking Street Committee. In the future the city is going to hire a private
company to lay new drainage pipes and administrators have already inspected
the new system used in Chiang Mai, which has shown good results.
“Preparations to meet the rapid development must be carried out
continually,” said Niran. “New traffic plans need implementing and the city
is in the process of buying plots of land in South Pattaya to be used as car
parks. The city is also in negotiations with Pattaya School #8 to use their
football field as an underground car park and if both projects are
implemented it would help to prepare for the rapid growth in the area.”
City Council meets to discuss format of new 55mn baht center
Narisa Nitikarn
Tavich Chaiswangwong, chairman of Pattaya City Council on May 19
presided over a meeting of council members and government department heads
to discuss the format of the new city hall conference center that is under
construction.
Director of city works Pichaet Uthaiwattananont said that the design of the
new conference center would be in the same mold as Parliament Hall in
Bangkok. There will be offices for the chairman and deputy chairman, desks
for 24 council members, and a pressroom.
The new building will cost 55 million baht. The old building is going to be
renovated and the smaller offices will be made larger so that the range of
uses can be given more flexibility.
Deputy chairman of the council Urit Nantasurasak pointed out that the
microphones in the new conference center need to be set at a height so that
people do not need to bow their heads when speaking, which does not look
good in terms of presentation, especially in the future when council
meetings are televised.
Pichaet promised that he will implement recommendations proposed at the
meeting.
Child with her arm caught
in motorcycle chain has lucky escape
Boonlua Chatree
A young girl riding pillion on her mother’s motorcycle had a lucky escape
when her jacket became caught in the drive-chain, pulling her arm into the
mechanism.
Rescue workers from the Rotchana Thamasatan Foundation were called out on
the night of May 23 to the scene of the accident at Sukhumvit Road Km 35, at
the entrance to Ban Na Moo 2, in Sattahip.
 13-year-old
Nuanprang escaped with only minor injuries after her arm became lodged in
the motorcycle chain.
They found that the child’s arm had become entangled with the sprocket and
chain. The motorcycle had fallen over and the girl could not move.
Her mother, Mrs Pornnapha Rattannapanyakul, 38, was sitting holding her
daughter Nuanprang, a 13-year-old student of Singsamut School. The girl was
screaming in pain, with her arm jammed into the chain and sprocket.
One of the rescue workers used a hacksaw to cut through the chain, and
within about 20 minutes the girl was freed and transferred to Queen Sirikit
Naval Hospital for treatment.
Pornnapha said she had taken her daughter to buy some food from the market,
and that they were on their way home when the accident happened. Nuanprang
was wearing a long jacket and it got caught in the sprocket and chain,
pulling the girl’s arm downwards and into the mechanism.
The child was fortunate that her arm was not severed, and that no bones were
broken, although she sustained cuts and bruises.
Rotchana Thamasatan Foundation officers said that motorcyclists should under
no circumstances wear long or trailing garments.
Ya ba users arrested in the middle of a deserted soi
Boonlua Chatree
Three people were found taking amphetamines in a deserted soi near the
Pattaya police station apartments in the early hours of May 19.
A routine police patrol had entered Soi Banlang at 3:30 a.m. when they
saw three people standing next to a wall and acting in a suspicious
manner. The three were identified as Miss Chonthicha, 24, Yongyoot
Huayyai, 31, and Yodkhun Mobmek, 29. All had ya ba paraphernalia, and
police found one ya ba pill in a plastic bag in the trouser pocket of
Yodkhun.
The three were taken to the police station and given a urine drug test,
which turned violet, indicating the presence of amphetamines. Officers
established that the three regularly used ya ba, and that they often
shared the cost of purchasing the drugs from a dealer in the soi.
7-Eleven employee stands up to armed youths who rob store
Boonlua Chatree
The female assistant manager of a 7-Eleven store tried to knock the gun
from the hand of an armed robber who was threatening staff as he and an
accomplice raided the till.
The robbery took place at 1 a.m. on May 20. Police from Dongtan sub-station
were called out to the store at Jomtien Beach Road Soi 13, where they found
three female employees in somewhat of a state of shock. Examining the scene,
officers found the glass entrance door shattered and a bullet casing on the
ground.
Ms Ratsamee Nampanya, a 26-year-old employee, said that she was working in
the store with Ms Ladda Sukchaisri, 22, the assistant manager, and Ms
Samniang Rungpirun, 27, when two men pulled up on a gray motorcycle. The men
came in to look at the goods. There were no other customers. The men took
one bottle of beer and one packet of cigarettes. They approached the cash
register and paid for the merchandise, and then took out a gun and laid it
on the counter, demanding the staff hand over all the money they had in the
till.
The frightened employees opened the drawer and gave them the money. As the
men were collecting the money, Ladda hit the hand of the robber who was
holding the gun. The man pointed the gun at the staff and his friend urged
him to shoot. But the two grabbed 1,900 baht from the till and made for the
door, threatening they would shoot anyone who tried to follow. Outside, they
shot at the door before getting on their motorcycle and riding away along
Jomtien Beach Road. Ladda came out of the shop to try and read the license
plate but the armed man threatened to shoot her.
Ladda told police she could remember the criminals very well. They were
around 20-25 years old. The man with the firearm was tall and was wearing a
white T-shirt and jeans. The other was the same height, and was wearing a
black T-shirt and jeans. The firearm was a handmade Thai revolver. They shot
the gun only once.
There was no CCTV in the shop.
At that time the manager was sleeping upstairs, and although Ladda pressed
the alarm to alert the manager the event happened too fast for any help to
arrive.
Police said that gangs of youths come out at night and watch the minimarts.
They target those that have only female employees and no CCTV systems, and
wait until there are no customers before they stage a robbery.
Transvestite seized
picking pocket of Pakistani
Boonlua Chatree
A “woman of the second category” who picked the pocket of a Pakistani
tourist and who tried to escape on a motorcycle was seized by his victim and
three other people and held until police arrived.
Pattaya police station received a report just after midnight on May 21 that
a transvestite had been apprehended while trying to escape with goods stolen
from a man on Beach Road, near the Nova Lodge Hotel.
Officers didn’t have far to travel to the scene of the crime, it being only
300 meters away from the police station, and they found the thief being held
by a group of people. The transvestite’s name was Naphat Chamnanphot, 24,
and he had stolen 3,000 baht from the tourist, 32-year-old Pakistan national
Said Ahamad. The visitor and his three friends were restraining Naphat.
Said and friends stated that while they were walking on Beach Road, Naphat
came up to talk with them and proposed a sexual service. The visitors asked
Naphat if he was a man or a woman. Naphat, who uses the name Nong O,
answered that he was a woman and already had a sex change operation. Then he
came closer and hugged Said while lifting 3,000 baht from his pocket. Naphat
then declared that he did not want to go with him, and started to walk away
towards his motorcycle. Said thought that odd, and checking his pockets
found that his 3,000 baht was gone. He and his friends chased after and held
the transvestite.
Naphat admitted picking Said’s pocket, saying that he needed money for his
expenses. After searching his record, police found that he had done this
many times before, and in some cases had actually injured tourists as well.
He also committed these crimes with three or four other transvestites. They
drove their motorbike along Beach Road looking for drunken tourist victims,
before approaching them and getting close enough to pick their pockets.
The money they managed to steal was used to pay for expensive valuables, and
for their sex change operations. They ran this scam every night and it was
difficult for the police to arrest them, because they were all expert
pickpockets and getaway artists. Police charged Naphat with theft.
Car bursts into flames upon impact at traffic light
Boonlua Chatree
Only light casualties resulted when a speeding car unable to stop at a
red light struck another vehicle and burst into flames.
The accident happened at 4 a.m. on May 21. Officers from Pattaya police
station were called out to the scene on Sukhumvit Road, at the North Pattaya
traffic light in the direction of Chonburi, where they found a Toyota Opal
with its front end damaged. A fire had started when the engine ignited on
collision, the flames engulfing the car. A Nissan Big M pickup truck was
also damaged.
This Toyota driven by Nattaphon Boonsom burst into flames after a collision at
the North Pattaya traffic lights.
Firemen from Pattaya Fire Department extinguished the flames within 10
minutes, but the car was a write-off. Nobody was in the vehicle. Two men and
a woman from the other vehicle had already been taken to Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital with slight injuries. The driver of the car that had hit the
stationary vehicle was identified as Nattaphon Boonsom, 35, who had
sustained an injury to his ankle.
Suthep Lamto, 30, the owner of the Nissan Big M stated that he had just
brought six of his relatives back from Chachoengsao and his vehicle had
arrived at the red light. Suddenly the vehicle driven by Nattaphon
approached, driving at speed with another white car alongside of them. They
could not stop in time and collided with the Nissan Big M, pushing it into
the vehicle in front. Nattaphon’s vehicle caught fire in the middle of the
road. Suthep and his relatives escaped from their pickup and took the three
injured people to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
Investigators will establish the cause of the fire and charges will be laid
where appropriate.
A snake in the grass
caught stealing ducks and chickens
Slippery thief banished to the wilds
It wasn’t thieves stealing Lt Somporn’s chickens,
it was a huge python.
Patcharapol Panrak
A man who thought that thieves had been stealing his ducks and chickens
during the night was surprised and not entirely relieved when he discovered
that the robber had in fact been a 3.6-meter long python slithering into his
garden on regular visits.
Lt Somporn Chudcholamak, who lives in Moo 5 in Sattahip, found the snake
caught up in a ring net that he used to contain his poultry. He called the
Rotjanathammasatharn Foundation and officers went immediately to the scene.
They cut the net and when they measured the python it was found to be 3.60
meters in length, give or take a coil. The rescue workers put the snake into
a bag and later released it far away from any residential area, saying that
it was in good shape and capable of taking care of itself.
Lt Somporn said that he reared poultry as a hobby and sold the eggs as a
second income for his family. He had often found that his ducks and chickens
were disappearing at night. He assumed that thieves had probably stolen
them, but today everything was clear: it was a snake in the grass.
Banglamung police take to the air to reduce crime
This 2-seater ultra-light will
provide added benefits in patrolling the skies over Banglamung and Pattaya.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Banglamung police have taken to the air, aiming to reduce crime and
traffic congestion in Pattaya and outer lying districts. Officers will fly
the skies over Pattaya in paramotors a 2-seater ultra-light aircraft.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Juthanon, region 2 police commander presided over the
launch ceremony at Pattaya airfield last Friday, May 27. There are currently
30 police involved in the new project, which is possible through the
cooperation of the Eastern Flying Club.
“Banglamung is a rapid growing district both economically and in numbers.
Now it is necessary to step up our efforts further to reduce crime in the
district, hence the birth of this new facet in police patrols,” said Pol.
Lt. Gen. Jongrak.
Police will patrol the areas using 100, 200 and 250cc paramotors as well as
a two seater light aircraft and an ultra-light to update ground patrols of
criminal activities.
Officers will also inspect traffic hotspots in three major areas above and
beyond the regular intervals, which include sections in Laem Chabang,
Pattaya and Banglamung. Another 5 districts and sub-districts such as Huay
Yai and 5 others where there is an estimated population of over 300,000 will
also be taken under the wing of the project.
Road wise, patrols will focus on Sukhumvit Road, Route 36 from the
Kratinglai intersection, Route 331 and the second section of Route 7.
“This will increase our effectiveness (as police) and aid in the battle
against drugs, increase our ability to monitor criminals who flee to the
water, and further protect residents and tourists alike,” added Pol. Lt.
Gen. Jongrak.
“In helping to reduce traffic congestion, we can also provide a more
comfortable standard of living,” he said.
There are a total of 30 people and 10 police involved in the pilot project.
The number of pilots will also help ensure a higher safety factor as well as
save on extra fuel costs compared with that of ground patrols covering the
same areas.
Sattahip Naval Base provides mobile surgery to schools on Apakorn Day
Patcharapol Panrak
May 19 is observed each year as the anniversary of Admiral Prince
Apakornkhietiwong Chumporn Ket Udomsak’s death. Amongst the activities
organized by Sattahip Naval Base to commemorate Apakorn Day this year was
the visit of a mobile surgery unit to Chongsamaesarn School and Kilo 5
School in Sattahip, along with the donation of sports equipment.
Dental care was part of the services Sattahip Naval Base offered the villagers on
Apakorn Day.
Rear Admiral Gomin Gomutanon, deputy commander of Sattahip Naval Base, led
the project. Rear Admiral Kitipat Wattanawong, director of Apakornkhietiwong
Hospital organized the surgery unit that undertook the testing of students’
general fitness and medical condition, and provided dental services. Free
haircuts were provided.
Rear Admiral Gomin said that most of the residents of Chongsamaesarn village
are fishermen and merchants. This village is located in an area controlled
by the military, and the armed forces bear responsibility towards the
community. Providing this service on Apakorn Day brought villagers and navy
personnel closer together and was an appropriate way to commemorate the
memory of Prince Apakornkhietiwong.
TDRC to gather opinions on making Second Road a two-way system
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A study is currently being undertaken to prepare master plans on the
development of Pattaya’s road network. A 10-year road safety plan for
Pattaya’s future development is also in the works.
Prof. Thawatchai Laosirihongtong of the Traffic and Transport Development and
Research Center at Phra Jomklao University Chonburi provides city hall on a
progress report on the Pattaya Traffic Study.
A meeting was held recently at city hall with representatives of the Traffic
and Transport Development and Research Center at Phra Jomklao University to
hear a progress report on the Pattaya Traffic Study.
During the study the TDRC has presented three options in resolving the
traffic problems. These are essentially that either the present one-way
system is retained; that a one-way reverse system is introduced; or that
Pattaya Second Road becomes two-way. The latter option appears to hold the
most promise, the study having shown that traveling time will be reduced by
an average of 40 percent, and average traveling distance reduced by 18
percent. Traffic congestion would be experienced at Pattaya Second Road
intersection, but it is conjectured implementing no-parking zones and
banning right-turns into the sois could resolve this.
The TDRC now has to carry out a questionnaire survey before deciding on the
Second Pattaya Road option. A study is also being conducted on the
feasibility of a Walking Street along Beach Road, with the planners looking
at safety aspects, convenience of entry and exit for service vehicles, and
access for pickup services and motorcycle taxis.
Spirit house construction continues on site earmarked for King Taksin memorial
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh
verifies the situation after receiving a complaint, and found that despite a
court order the Guanoo Spirit House is 80% complete.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Construction work on the Guanoo spirit house on a site set aside by city
hall for building a monument to King Taksin the Great has continued despite
an order to cease.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh led a team of investigators to the site at
Khao Prayai on May 19, after reports that the Mahakitpaisarn Foundation was
continuing to trespass on the land despite a court order having been issued
to suspend construction.
City hall had already designated that plot of land for the monument to King
Taksin. The project has had budget approval from Pattaya City Council, and
been authorized by the Ministry of Culture.
However, the Mahakitpaisarn Foundation has continued construction of the
Guanoo spirit house over the property line, and is therefore trespassing.
Pattaya City has already posted a notice to suspend construction and
demolish the building, but work continued.
The foundation has applied for a ruling from the Administrative Court,
stating that the structure was already over 80 percent complete. The
Administrative Court has already issued an order for both parties to suspend
works until a final judgment can be reached.
Ronakit said that the order from the Administrative Court to suspend the
work pertained to both parties, and that it should not be infringed upon.
However, inspection revealed that work was still continuing and Pattaya City
will file a complaint.
Ronakit said that the Administrative Court would issue final judgment within
one week, and which time a decision can be taken on the Guanoo construction
work.
The East is colorful and fair will showcase region’s attractions
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City Council in cooperation with the Eastern Provinces Strategy
Group comprising Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, together with the
Tourism Authority of Thailand are organizing the Colorful East Fair, which
is to be held from June 10-13 on Pattaya Beach Road.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh on May 9 presided over a meeting of the
tourism festival activities committee at Siam Bayview Hotel.
The Colorful East Fair was first held in 2004. Sontaya Khunplome, Minister
of Tourism and Sport presided over the opening. The event attracted large
numbers of tourists and was considered hugely successful.
This year the fair will commemorate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the
King’s accession to the throne. The concept is to promote tourism to the
Eastern region with each province emphasizing cultural attractions and trade
shows, with goods for sale from each province.
Ronakit said that the Eastern Provinces Strategy Group had allocated a two
million baht budget to each of the provinces to decorate their sites in an
appropriate manner. Small stages will be set up at the event for the
performance of cultural shows by participating provinces on a rotary basis
throughout the four-day event.
Sales promotions will also be held by offering tickets and coupons, and
holders of the tickets will obtain discounts at hotels, restaurants and
tourist attractions that are participating in the project and will be valid
throughout this year.
Ronakit added that on the 10th at 4 p.m. a parade is going to be held in
celebration of His Majesty the King. The parade will start out from Pattaya
District Office and continue on to the event area where there will be a
grand opening featuring Wilat Suparik Boekamorn.
Contractor directed to dig up
and relay drainage pipes
Deputy Mayor urges public to be vigilant on work procedures
When city officials ordered
the road dug up where pipes had been laid, on one side of the road there was
no wadding to keep the pipes in place.
Narisa Nitikarn
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn along with members of Pattaya City
Council and officers of the Public Works Department on May 16 carried out an
inspection of pipe laying in Sukhumvit Soi 50, near Thepprasit Road at the
front of Na Mai Thai Apartments, after receiving a letter of complaint that
the pipe laying was not being carried out in accordance with recognized
standards.
The Pattaya City Council project is being carried out by VL Network 1996 Co
Ltd, who were hired to construct a steel reinforced concrete road and lay
drainage pipes in Sois 50 and 52 and in Soi Panied Chang 7 under a project
worth 21,470,000 baht. The project commenced on January 11 this year and was
expected to be complete by July 10.
Wutisak ordered that the road be dug up where the pipes had been laid at
both sides of the way, and it was found that the pipes had been laid
properly on wadding (a large cement cradle used to keep pipes in place) on
one side of the road, but the opposite side of the road was a different
story: no wadding had been used. It is vitally important for drainage pipes
to be laid on wadding, as this stops them from moving. On finding
irregularities, officers questioned workers, who were looking distinctly
uneasy and were not able to answer some of Wutisak’s questions.
Wutisak told the Pattaya Mail that action would be considered against VL
Network. He said that the company would be made to dig up all the pipes and
lay them in a standardized manner. A committee may be set up to investigate
the company and find the reason for this irregularity. Inspectors would be
on hand at the site to make sure the job is done properly.
Wutisak also asked for the help of the public in reporting any
irregularities in projects or non-standard procedures being implemented by
contractors. Complaints may be phoned in on 0 38253 100.
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