PHUKET: Trucked water could become more expensive this high season on Phuket amid a dispute that is being attributed to the personality of Phuket's new Natural Resources and Environment Director.

The director, Chaipadong Promsawat, had claimed he was appointed to the job and ''told what to do'' by fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, water drilling company chief Udomsak Naddasena told Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha today.

Since Khun Chaipadong arrived on Phuket on October 15 no permits had been issued to any of Phuket's 15 water drilling companies because of Khun Chaipadong's insistence that the owners of all properties meet him in person before permission is granted.

Khun Udomsak said he usually drilled for 350 water supplies a year and the lack of business was in danger of sending him bankrupt. Many of the wells were for new resorts and villas that would be forced to seek other sources of water, he said.

He told the governor in a meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City today that Khun Chaipadong admitted his requirement was ''my madness'' but insisted on seeing the owners.

He rejected the notion that Phuket was not like Samutprakarn, where he had previously worked, and where most property owners were locals.

Khun Chaipadong also rejected the notion that his time would be better spent checking environmental breaches, Khun Udomsak said.

Governor Tri agreed that many land owners on Phuket were absentee owners. He said he will write to the top officials at the Interior Ministry seeking a solution.

Khun Udomsak plans to take his complaints to the Pheu Thai party offices in Bangkok himself later this week.