PHUKET: The construction of Phuket's conference and exhibition centre is to proceed rapidly now that environmental objections have been overturned, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha said yesterday.
The go-ahead for the 2.6 billion baht project, seen as essential for Phuket's tourism future, was welcomed enthusiastically today by leaders of Phuket's tourism industry.
''The new environmental impact assessment has been done and accepted by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources,'' Governor Tri told a meeting of local authorities at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
Governor Tri said the first EIA that produced reasons why the conference centre could not proceed had been carried out by departmental officials without consultation with Phuket residents or officials.
The second EIA led by Phuket Provincial Hall authorities had established that the land set aside for the project north west of Mai Khao beach was not ''the last mangrove forest'' on Phuket, and had not been a nesting area for leatherback turtles, the two most senstive items on the original EIA.
The budget and design of the centre has been approved and construction could begin early in the new year.
Resorts in the Mai Khao region, which has opened up to tourism rapidly as the conference project became more certain, are likely to greet news of the go-ahead with glee.
The go-ahead for the 2.6 billion baht project, seen as essential for Phuket's tourism future, was welcomed enthusiastically today by leaders of Phuket's tourism industry.
''The new environmental impact assessment has been done and accepted by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources,'' Governor Tri told a meeting of local authorities at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
Governor Tri said the first EIA that produced reasons why the conference centre could not proceed had been carried out by departmental officials without consultation with Phuket residents or officials.
The second EIA led by Phuket Provincial Hall authorities had established that the land set aside for the project north west of Mai Khao beach was not ''the last mangrove forest'' on Phuket, and had not been a nesting area for leatherback turtles, the two most senstive items on the original EIA.
The budget and design of the centre has been approved and construction could begin early in the new year.
Resorts in the Mai Khao region, which has opened up to tourism rapidly as the conference project became more certain, are likely to greet news of the go-ahead with glee.
Excellent News , then that part of Phuket can be destroyed as well.
Posted by Bjarne on November 10, 2011 13:10