“The urbanisation on private land brings a negative result to the area of Tambon Thepkrasattri, increased construction of buildings and households has obstructed water pathways,” Mayor Chalermphon told The Phuket News in a recent interview.
As mayor of Srisoonthorn, Mayor Chalermphon had much to contend with as floodwaters rose on June 30 and July 1. The subdistricts of Srisoonthorn and Thepkrasattri saw more than 740 households inundated. The floods directly affected 1,468 people. Hundreds were forced to evacuate their homes.
“The initial challenges [from the June 30 flooding] have been resolved and significant progress is being made in addressing the underlying issues. However, further efforts are underway to resolve flooding at Khao Phra Thaeo and Baan Manik,” Mayor Chalermphon said.
While flash floods affect nearly everyone in the area, even in deploying works to widen canals to help increase their capacity to deal with runoff, Mayor Chalermphon has encountered problems.
“Private landowners often refuse to cooperate when asked to allow public construction to solve the issue of flash floods. The municipality can only request their cooperation, as we lack the legal power to construct on private land,” he explained.
Mayor Chalermphon noted, “The income generated from Phuket significantly contributes to Thailand’s economy, but the maintenance and improvement of living standards in Phuket have not met expectations.
“Phuket is a second home for foreign investors. If the government focuses on improving infrastructure, facilities and transportation, Phuket can become a top destination for foreign investors,” he said.
CAUSES
The areas of repeated flooding, near Khao Phra Thaeo and in Baan Manik, are naturally prone to flooding, said Mayor Chalermphon, who grew up in the area. "Baan Manik often experiences severe flooding, affecting Thepkrasattri Rd, a major route from the airport,” he said.
“The main klong [canal] through the area cannot hold prolonged rainfall, leading to water bursting into villages and overflowing into nearby roads and canals,” he explained.
He added that urbanisation and the increasing rate of development has worsened the problem, with construction replacing fields and nature, creating barriers to water flow. With periods of intense rainfall, this contributes to flash floods, he said.
The cooperation between Srisoonthorn Municipality and private landowners has improved, “Temporary permits for construction are acceptable, but long-term permits present challenges. If investors do not agree to measures for water flow, alternative plans must be devised,” Mayor Chalermphon said.
The municipality does not have the authority to refuse building permits on private land but can request cooperation. In urgent situations, the governor and town planning department can assist by reviewing construction plans and asking for cooperation within legal limits, he noted.
Bureaucratic delays and budget requirements complicate the process, he added.
PREVENTION
During Prime Minister Srettha’s visit to the Heroines Monument early last month, Mayor Chalermphon requested a budget to address the flooding problem in Baan Manik.
Prime Minister Srettha instructed him to draft a plan and budget for Cabinet approval, as plans exceeding B100 million require a vote from the House of Representatives, causing delays, Mayor Chalermphon explained.
Following PM Srettha’s visit, the next day (July 6) Mayor Chalermphon along with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and officers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning visited the flood area to draft the plan.
“We propose building a higher flood wall and deepening the canal. The solution includes constructing a high dam and a continuous wall along the canal to block floodwaters from entering villages,” Mayor Chalermphon said.
“The plan involves an eight-kilometre wall along two canals, from Baan Manik to Ao Sapam, behind Tha Ruea Shrine, with a budget of B263 million.”
Mayor Chalermphon told The Phuket News, “I plan to meet with the Cabinet again in August to request additional funds for installing smart poles for flood warnings and approval from Cabinet.”
The smart poles send signals of flooding and the water detector will be placed at the starting points of water flow, automatically sending messages to villagers in the risk areas before flooding occurs.
The ongoing plan will be presented to the Cabinet to ensure people in the area can prepare and report any problems, he noted.
Mayor Chalermphon explained, “The next area that we have plans for is Baan Ya. The plan is to replace old, disorganised water drainage pipes with larger ones, from 60cm to 1.5 metres in diameter, and extend the network a further 300m, but the project requires cooperation from another municipality, adding complexity to the process.”
Yet while the floodworks continues, Srisoonthorn Municipality will try to maintain pressure on developers to factor in potential flood risk in the construction plan, Mayor Chalermphon said.
“The future plan for control in increasing construction on private land is before any new construction begins. The municipality may request to review plans to assess potential impacts.
“This involves discussing with landowners and town planners, asking owners to inform the municipality before building, and consulting engineers to ensure compliance,” he added.
However, if the building permit complies with all existing laws, the municipality has no choice but to approve the permit, Mayor Chalermphon noted.
All the municipality can do is request cooperation.
“When a municipality or government department requests cooperation, the well-being and needs of the community must come first,” Mayor Chalermphon said.
“Please extend kindness and cooperation for the greater happiness of the majority. This is an act of compassion we ask for private landowners,” he concluded.