The Thai PM was in Phuket yesterday (for the fifth time since becoming PM last year), meeting with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and various other provincial officials at the Cape Panwa offices of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
One of the issues raised by PM Srettha Thavisin was the ongoing risk of landslides on the island during the rainy season. He has called for prevention and mitigation measures to be implemented to keep residents and tourists safe.
Governor Sophon updated the PM on two major projects designed to lessen the risk of landslides. The first is the construction of a water retention weir in Kamala. The design phase is now complete and details of the project have been submitted to the Department of Public Works and Planning. A budget of 70 million baht has been allocated to the project.
Meanwhile, land surveys have been carried out for the second project, which is the expansion of the Tha Ruea Canal in the northern sub-district of Srisoontorn. The details of that project have also been submitted to the Department of Public Works and Planning, with a budget of 264 million baht set aside.
At the meeting, the PM said he’s asking the Department of Mineral Resources to come with a plan for managing areas on the island that are “high-risk” for landslides, including providing landslide risk maps to local residents. He also wants the department to work with local officials to prepare for “before, during, and after” natural disasters.
The PM also wants to see monitoring and warning systems designed and the use of modern technology such as aerial and satellite imagery to plan for effective land use during construction projects. He has also called for soil movement monitoring stations that can alert local residents to potential landslides and flash floods.
In speaking with the governor, the PM emphasised the need to act quickly in the so-called “red zones” ahead of more heavy rain. Srettha also instructed Sophon to work with other relevant agencies on public awareness campaigns to educate local residents on the risks and causes of landslides.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
