With rainy season on the horizon, Pattaya’s new deputy mayors inspected flood-prone areas of the city to check on preparations to mitigate flooding this year.
Apichart Virapal and Vichien Pongpanit were joined by engineering and other city department staffers on the March 8 tour. Engineering Department chief Wirat Jirasripaitoon explained causes of flooding and origin points for the runoff that inundates the western half of the city each time it rains.
He pointed out that large pumps now have been installed on Jomtien and Pattaya beaches, allowing flood waters to be cleared in less than an hour, instead of the previous three hours.
Wirat said dredging also is taking place at the Nokyang canal near Sukhumvit sois 21-23 so that runoff from higher elevations ends up in the channel to take it out to sea.
The city also is continuing efforts to remove illegal structures encroaching on canal and flood-drainage areas, such as the South Pattaya and Naklua canals.
