Cherng Talay Makes History As First Local Wastewater-Treatment Plants Come Online
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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, March 1 – Thursday, March 7, 2019 Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 9 20 Baht FRENCHWOMAN DEPORTED FOR VAPING > PAGE 2 NEWS PAGE 3 National reaction after Finnish boy BEYOND THE attacked by dogs WATERSHED LIFE PAGE 11 Everyday life as seen through a The putrid pools of wastewater on the beaches monk’s eyes at Bang Tao and Surin are hoped to soon be a thing of the past. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot CHERNG TALAY MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST LOCAL WASTEWATER-TREATMENT PLANTS COME ONLINE Waranya Prompinpiras at a cost of B355.52 million. A total Srisoonthorn, took on a B1.65mn we will have to offer a new contract, [email protected] of B248,773,025 of the budget was contract to service the ailing waste- as that is required under the Thai provided by the Environmental Fund water treatment sites back to opera- government procurement legislation,” he popular tourist beach areas operated by the Office of Natural Re- tional condition. The maintenance Mr MaAnn explained. SPORT PAGE 32 of Bang Tao and Surin Beach sources and Environmental Policy and and repairs began on Jan 1 and were “The contract for operating the two Ton Phuket’s west coast make Planning (Onep), and B106,746,975 completed last Saturday (Feb 23), Mr plants for seven months is for about Thai Fight fest history today (Mar 1) as the first was provided by the Cherng Talay MaAnn explained. B3.2mn. If offered for a whole year, wastewater-treatment plants serving Tambon Administration Organisation Today (Mar 1), the company will the amount will be about B5.6mn,” the areas are brought online – the first (OrBorTor). bring both facilities online, operating he added. ropes in local major step forward in the hope of However, both facilities fell into 24 hours a day, he said. The cost includes conducting fighters, legends eradicating the putrid pools of black disrepair after laying idle while no Cherng Talay OrBorTor signed an regular water-quality tests to ensure wastewater that have gathered on the company entered bids to operate and initial contract with Kwan Rawee Co the wastewater being released post- two beaches for more than a decade. maintain the two plants. Ltd to operate the plants for just seven treatment complies with environmental The two wastewater plants – Late last year that changed, Cherng months, from Mar 1- Sep 30, 2019. regulations, Mr MaAnn noted. one located near each beach – were Talay OrBorTor Chief MaAnn Sam- “This is because the contract Both the Surin Beach and Bang built under government contract by ran told The Phuket News this week. cannot extend beyond the fiscal Tao plants have been built beside the Prayongsil Karnyotha Co Ltd over Local company Kwan Rawee year (ending Sept 30), which official beaches where local major canals that five years, from 2012 though 2017, Co Ltd, with its office located in budgets must adhere to. After that, run through the neighbourhoods... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 [email protected] Police to rein in tourists hooning on motorbikes in News Patong > page 4 Cherng Talay tackles wastewater eyesores Frenchwoman deported Continued from page 1 ...empty onto the sand. for vaping e-cig in Karon “This is to make sure that Tanyaluk Sakoot Cecilia Cornu went with no sheets or mattresses we treat as much of the dirty [email protected] public on French TV. before returning home. water as we can before it is Screengrab: France Cornu claims the ordeal released into the sea,” Mr olice have responded 3 / FranceInfo cost her a total of approximately MaAnn explained. to complaints made by 8,000 euros (B286,000) in legal The main sludge separa- Workers complete the Pa French tourist who fees and travel expenses. tion tanks and the secondary finishing touches to one of was apprehended in Karon for Karon Police Chief Col treatment tanks at both sites the plants last week. possession of an e-cigarette. Prasarn Hankotha on Wednes- have been installed under- Cecilia Cornu, 31, in Phuket day (Feb 27) flatly denied ground in order to not create as there is no room to store for a family holiday, was caught Cornu’s claim that his officers visible eyesores, and to keep treated water, but the Surin by Karon Police holding an e- demanded a B40,000 bribe. the stench to a minimum, Mr plant does have a storage fa- cigarette on Jan 30 whilst on a “Karon Police had nothing MaAnn explained. cility. During the dry season, scooter with her fiancée as her to do with that,” he asserted. Cherng Talay OrBorTor such as now, this treated water parents and brother followed “We had to confiscate her has already installed sewers will be used for watering behind. passport to prevent her from throughout the areas imme- gardens and roadside trees or Cornu claims she was trial date set for Feb 11. Her she thought was to collect her leaving the country before trial, diately adjacent to the two put to some other beneficial stopped by four police officers return flight was scheduled passport. Upon arriving at the which is a normal procedure,” wastewater plants. Sewers use,” Mr MaAnn said, adding who snatched the e-cigarette for the following day. immigration office, she was told he said. “Police then sent her installed in Cherng Talay Moo that any excess treated water and demanded B40,000, which She posted bail of B100,000 that she would be transferred to the Phuket Immigration 2 and Moo 5 will feed the from the Surin plant will be she refused to pay. and was released the same day to Bangkok for deportation. Office on Feb 11 to process Bang Tao station, while the emptied onto the beach. She claims she was then pending trial. Cornu was then taken to her deportation via Bangkok.” waste pipes laid throughout Also, as a last-gasp meas- arrested and taken to Karon On Feb 11 Cornu attended Bangkok where she claims Asked about Cornu’s case, Moo 3 will feed the Surin ure to clean dirty water in the Police Station where officers Phuket Provincial Court where she spent four days and three Phuket Immigration Chief Beach plant. canal at Bang Tao, an ozone tried to bully her into paying she was convicted for the of- nights in a prison cell shared Col Kathathorn Kumthieng “Treated wastewater from water-treatment machine is in a bribe. fence and says she was fined with 60 other women in dire said, “I don’t know about Ms the Bang Tao plant will be operation near the southern end Cornu was charged, her B827. She was then sent to conditions where she had to Cecilia’s complaint. It is not released straight into the sea of Bang Tao Beach, he added. passport confiscated and a Phuket Immigration for what sleep on a hard, dirty floor an important issue.” Phuket City Municipality urges residents to conserve water PHUKET CITY MUNICIPALITY IS urging residents to use tap water sparingly in order to make water-supply reserves last throughout the dry season, and has issued its second warning in a week that water pres- sure may be introduced in order to conserve water-supply reserves. The notice was issued last Thursday (Feb 21), as Thailand officially entered its hot season. Although Phuket during this period experi- Phuket City Municipality is urging residents ences isolated thundershowers from time to to use tap water sparingly in order to make time, rainfall is relatively rare and will not water-supply reserves last throughout the return until the southwest monsoon returns dry season. Image: Phuket City Municipality in May, Phuket City Municipality explained in its notice, which read: eration from all people to save water so there “We ask people to save water throughout is enough water to use later,” the notice read. the dry season. We ask people to cooperate The notice was the second warning in the as follows: same week that Phuket City Municipality 1. Please use water sparingly and store had issued cautioning that water rationing water in a container for use in case water may be introduced within city limits and in supply becomes weak or stops. nearby areas. 2. The Phuket City Municipality water Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana supply division will have to reduce (mains) earlier last week explained that Phuket City water pressure from 10am - 5pm and from Municipality provides tap water to more than 10pm - 5am in Talad Nua and Talad Yai 18,096 residences in Phuket Town and nearby subdistricts. Areas far from mains supply areas and admitted that water reserves were points or on high ground will have weak lower than usual for this time of year – but water pressure or water flow will stop. also called on residents to not panic. 3. Please check pipes in your house to “If people do need urgent supply of water, ensure water is not wasted (through leaks). please call the (Department of Disaster Pre- If you find leaky or broken pipes, please vention and Mitigation) DDPM hotline 199 inform the Phuket City Municipality water or Phuket City Municipality at 076-211111 supply division by calling 076-211130 (24 or the Phuket City Municipality hotline 1132 hours). for help,” she said. “Phuket City Municipality requests coop- The Phuket News thephuketnews THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 PHUKET NEWS 3 Boy, 5, savaged by stray dogs HM King dispatches envoy, PM Prayut stops by, round-up launched Eakkapop Thongtub to round up stray dogs in all dogs within the coming week.