Villagers and officials point to one of the
many dangerous uncovered drains in the road after thieves had stolen the
cover.
Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip villagers again took to the streets in
protest over the Khet Udomsak district’s continued failure to replace
stolen drain covers, which for seven months has caused traffic accidents
and blocked roads.
Moo 6 village chief Charoon Fuangcharoen led about 20
residents to the Khet Udomsak administration July 31 to file another
complaint about the iron grates that are supposed to cover drain pipes
on Soi Long Poi. They said the relatively new, million-baht road has
been rendered nearly useless by the district’s neglect.
The problem began Dec. 9 when residents discovered
thieves in pickup trucks had begun pulling the iron grates off the
roadway to sell for scrap. The Moo 6 village head Natchai Sangsri
blocked the soi and put up warning signs, but a Tawhan Restaurant
employee who ignored the warning and was driving with his lights off
fell into an open drain, sustaining a head injury. Charoon said last
week numerous other injury accidents have occurred since.
He said villagers are angry that the money spent on
the road has essentially been wasted, as the soi remains closed to
traffic. He said unless the local government fixes the problem, the
street will become a hangout for drug dealers and other criminal
elements.
