PHUKET: ''Name them and Shame them'' was the decision made by authorities yesterday looking for ways to solve pollution at Bang Tao canal and other canals across Phuket.
Resorts and other enterprises along the canal's banks will be checked to see whether or not they have wastewater treatment plants.
Those that do not will be presumed guilty and have signs placed out front designating them as likely polluters.
Dredging the canal for a kilometre or so was also considered as useful to expose where the pollution occurs.
''Black'' water extending for a kilometre along internationally renowned Bang Tao beach and the testimony of fed-up local residents exposed Phuket's pollution problems publicly for the first time at the weekend.
Tourists and residents face possible infections from the pollution, a meeting at Cherng Talay council offices heard yesterday.
The ruling Pheu Thai party's spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, inspected the Bang tao canal and offered national government support to measures to clean up all Phuket canals.
''I am prepared to come to Phuket every week if necessary to help clean up the canals,'' he said, adding that it was fortunate that Phuket's tides worked well and usually swept away polluted water quickly.
Canals in Phuket City, Patong, Karon and Kata have been mentioned as suffering similar levels of pollution to Bang Tao.
Phuket's canals have in many cases been covered over or filled in, diverting water in heavy downpours to places nature never intended it to go.
Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak paid a visit to Patong's Soi Nanai 2 this week after more than 100 residents petitioned the Damrungtam complaints office in Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket City.
A road surface now tops the old canal but one resident has blocked the canal with a wall constructed on private property. It's anticipated that with the first serious monsoon downpours, flooding will be the result.
Once there is flooding, local authorities will be empowered to breach the wall as an emergency measure, the vice governor said.
Resorts and other enterprises along the canal's banks will be checked to see whether or not they have wastewater treatment plants.
Those that do not will be presumed guilty and have signs placed out front designating them as likely polluters.
Dredging the canal for a kilometre or so was also considered as useful to expose where the pollution occurs.
''Black'' water extending for a kilometre along internationally renowned Bang Tao beach and the testimony of fed-up local residents exposed Phuket's pollution problems publicly for the first time at the weekend.
Tourists and residents face possible infections from the pollution, a meeting at Cherng Talay council offices heard yesterday.
The ruling Pheu Thai party's spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, inspected the Bang tao canal and offered national government support to measures to clean up all Phuket canals.
''I am prepared to come to Phuket every week if necessary to help clean up the canals,'' he said, adding that it was fortunate that Phuket's tides worked well and usually swept away polluted water quickly.
Canals in Phuket City, Patong, Karon and Kata have been mentioned as suffering similar levels of pollution to Bang Tao.
Phuket's canals have in many cases been covered over or filled in, diverting water in heavy downpours to places nature never intended it to go.
Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak paid a visit to Patong's Soi Nanai 2 this week after more than 100 residents petitioned the Damrungtam complaints office in Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket City.
A road surface now tops the old canal but one resident has blocked the canal with a wall constructed on private property. It's anticipated that with the first serious monsoon downpours, flooding will be the result.
Once there is flooding, local authorities will be empowered to breach the wall as an emergency measure, the vice governor said.
Well done locals Thai and Farang ! Let the Governing officals know how wrong polluting on all.evels is! Name and shame way to go!
Posted by Debra on April 24, 2013 14:58
Editor Comment:
As Phuketwan has editorialised, the way to go is to fine and jail the perpetrators. Our recommendation is not ''name and shame,'' it's '' enforce the law.''
Anything less is dodging the issue. Those responsible for enforcing the law are the same people who have allowed this situation to develop. That's the real problem .