BUSINESSES along the road leading to Phuket's Big Buddha are being subjected to a crackdown, the head of Phuket's Natural Resources and Environment Department, Ong-art Chanachanmongkol, said today.
Most of the property along the route belonged to the Forests Department and it was clear many of the buildings are illegal, he added.
The real estate crackdown by the Natural Resources and Environment officers began last week with instructions to investigate being issued to department staff, Khun Ong-art said.
At least five restaurants have opened as the six-kilometre route up to the Big Buddha from Chalong has been properly surfaced and become so attractive to visitors that as many as 100,000 were anticipated to make the trip on Monday and Tuesday, the Buddhist Asarnha Bucha festival.
An exception was made to the regulation prohibiting building above 80 metres on the island, allowing the 45-metre statue to go up on top of the 380-metre Nakkerd Hill.
But the worst fears of the environmentalists who resisted the project have been realised as businesses have flourished along the road leading up to the top.
The Big Buddha has proven to be an important addition to Phuket's religious life and its tourism industry. As the largest sitting buddha in Thailand, hundreds of visitors flock to see the statue and enjoy the best views across the south of Phuket.
Phuket's Big Buddha May Draw 100,000 CrowdMost of the property along the route belonged to the Forests Department and it was clear many of the buildings are illegal, he added.
The real estate crackdown by the Natural Resources and Environment officers began last week with instructions to investigate being issued to department staff, Khun Ong-art said.
At least five restaurants have opened as the six-kilometre route up to the Big Buddha from Chalong has been properly surfaced and become so attractive to visitors that as many as 100,000 were anticipated to make the trip on Monday and Tuesday, the Buddhist Asarnha Bucha festival.
An exception was made to the regulation prohibiting building above 80 metres on the island, allowing the 45-metre statue to go up on top of the 380-metre Nakkerd Hill.
But the worst fears of the environmentalists who resisted the project have been realised as businesses have flourished along the road leading up to the top.
The Big Buddha has proven to be an important addition to Phuket's religious life and its tourism industry. As the largest sitting buddha in Thailand, hundreds of visitors flock to see the statue and enjoy the best views across the south of Phuket.
PHOTO ALBUM Estimates that 100,000 people will visit Phuket's Big Buddha over a day or two may not be far fetched. The hilltop is a sea of people with gridlock traffic on the way down.
Phuket's Big Buddha May Draw 100,000 Crowd
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There has been a stream of construction trucks for the road and the statue since it's inception and this continues today. Add to that the multitude of tourists and worshippers driving up and it is becoming an environmental disaster.
The best thing is to block the road - stopping the land encroachment and illegal businesses, and putting up the much touted cable car or a reticular rail system with parking at the bottom - and of course decent, safe vehicular access to this system.
I won't hold my breath waiting, though.
Posted by Anonymous on July 28, 2010 19:12