THESE photographs of developments on Phuket were produced yesterday when senior officials examined Phuket's environmental problems.
The photographs were taken at different developments on Phuket and screened on a projector yesterday to illustrate destruction and erosion run-off.
Vice Governor Niwit Aroonrat met a delegation from the Bay of Bengal large marine ecosystem project, which aims to protect the environment in the eight countries bordering the bay.
Chief Technical Advisor Dr Rudolf Hermes told the meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City that overfishing was the largest problem for the region, together with destruction of sea grasses and pollution from vessels and coastline construction.
After viewing the photographs, Vice Governor Niwit said: ''If police arrested any of those developers, I can guarantee I will get a phone call within five minutes.''
He said he went to a beach one day to examine encroachment. Police, a local mayor, a district chief were all there. Only the representative from marine region five sought action afterwards, the vice governor said.
''Everybody knows these sites are illegal,'' Vice Governor Niwit said. ''But everyone just keeps quiet. Those who have the law in their hands do not do their job.''
He said he wanted to tell Phang Nga and Krabi not to be jealous of Phuket. ''We may have the tourists, but once the environment is destroyed, you can't have it back.''
From March 11 experts from eight countries will meet on Phuket at the organisation's office on Cape Panwa, on Phuket's east coast.
A briefing on Phuket's problems and potential solutions is expected to be produced by May 1. The sweeping project is at the analysis stage. No details were were given about where the photographs were taken.
Countries in the Bay of Bengal lme are Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Phuket's Beaches Attacked in 'Greed Rush'The photographs were taken at different developments on Phuket and screened on a projector yesterday to illustrate destruction and erosion run-off.
Vice Governor Niwit Aroonrat met a delegation from the Bay of Bengal large marine ecosystem project, which aims to protect the environment in the eight countries bordering the bay.
Chief Technical Advisor Dr Rudolf Hermes told the meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City that overfishing was the largest problem for the region, together with destruction of sea grasses and pollution from vessels and coastline construction.
After viewing the photographs, Vice Governor Niwit said: ''If police arrested any of those developers, I can guarantee I will get a phone call within five minutes.''
He said he went to a beach one day to examine encroachment. Police, a local mayor, a district chief were all there. Only the representative from marine region five sought action afterwards, the vice governor said.
''Everybody knows these sites are illegal,'' Vice Governor Niwit said. ''But everyone just keeps quiet. Those who have the law in their hands do not do their job.''
He said he wanted to tell Phang Nga and Krabi not to be jealous of Phuket. ''We may have the tourists, but once the environment is destroyed, you can't have it back.''
From March 11 experts from eight countries will meet on Phuket at the organisation's office on Cape Panwa, on Phuket's east coast.
A briefing on Phuket's problems and potential solutions is expected to be produced by May 1. The sweeping project is at the analysis stage. No details were were given about where the photographs were taken.
Countries in the Bay of Bengal lme are Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
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Posted by Mike Boyd on February 9, 2011 16:21