Foul smelling wastewater is continuing to flow across the sand at Kamala Beach, a week after Phuket officials vowed to take action, both in Patong and Kamala. The Phuket News has spoken to a long-term expat in the Kamala area who says the situation is having a serious effect on business.
“The Kamala beach klong is stinking so much no one is eating in the restaurants next to the river. The smell is so bad people have headaches. Even the jet-skis are not going into the water. It’s sad to see.”
It’s understood the wastewater is coming from the Pak Bang Canal, which is described in the report as “shiny black” and “reeking with a foul stench”. It has been like that, sometimes better, sometimes worse, for decades.
The foreign resident who spoke to The Phuket News says the situation has become a lot worse since a large resort began operating in the area right next to the canal.
However, the resort has yet to be investigated for any alleged involvement in the problem… they rarely are.
Meanwhile, officials continue to remind residents to ensure wastewater is property treated before being emptied into the canal. But aside from that, the expat claims little is being done to address the problem.
“The other contributing factor is that when the post-tsunami ’beautification’ of the beach and the local park took place, the original, natural flow of waters from the hills was diverted.”
The Phuket News reports that last week, local officials vowed to dredge a deeper channel across Kamala Beach to allow the wastewater to flow more quickly into the sea. This followed a visit to the beach by Kathu District Chief Thitiwat Boonkij and the President of the Kamala OrBorTor, Jutha Doomluck.
The report goes on to say that Thitiwat has admitted the wastewater is black as a result of accumulating dirty water in the canal, adding that an aerator will be installed to generate oxygen in the canal water. He has also confirmed the water treatment machine in the canal is broken.
So, bottomline, status quo rules.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
