PHUKET: Management at The Village Coconut Island, a high-profile development on Koh Maphrao off the east coast of Phuket, has defended the project against allegations of polluting the sea and operating without being legally entitled to do so.

An inspection party on Tuesday led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Samgkaosutthirak witnessed Phase II construction run-off that muddied the sea in what a spokesperson for the project later described as ''possibly the worst flash storm since the project commenced some five years ago.''

Residents along the coast and on nearby islands frequently travel on ferries or other vessels past this project and other projects.

In general, what they have seen of construction sites has tended to persuade many that developments are not as desirable as they had been led to believe.

In some cases, jobs promised for locals have failed to materialise. The building phase of a development anywhere is hardly an indication that the environment will be improved by construction, except in the eyes of the people who stand to make a profit or invest.

Most of the residents on this part of Phuket's east coast have strong ties to the sea, protect it rigorously and aim to keep their lifestyles unchanged.

It's a very different outlook and approach to the luxurious, all mod-cons materialism now becoming a reality next-door.

The Village Coconut Island villa and suites resort is promoted as being ''set on a private island just five hundred metres off the east coast of Phuket'' with ''500 metres of unspoilt golden sandy beach.''

Here's what General Manager Mark Ashman responded when Phuketwan sought the other side of this issue:

''On the 6th September The Village was visited by The Vice Governor and various representatives of the local planning department, environmental officers and members of the press.

''The visit was due to a couple of local complaints concerning 'pollution'.

''Regrettably during his visit The Village incurred possibly the worst flash storm since the project commenced some five years ago. This made run off water from the last area of construction turn red as landscaping cannot be completed until construction work is completed.

''The Vice Governor was understanding of this but asked if we could try and create a temporary holding dam - this has already been implemented.

''Regarding 'pollution'. The Vice Governor found no evidence of raw sewage being released into the sea. He was shown our Thai authority EIA approved sewage treatment plant. He was shown how all used water is collected into this system where it is treated before being put into a lake before being used in landscape irrigation system.

''The treatment plant installed is fully approved by the Thai authorities to the extent that the cleaned water can actually be released directly into public areas. The system has already been tested by Premier products (ISO 9001 : 2000) who were responsible for the installation.

''The test was carried out on 7th July this year and exceeded easily the minimum legal requirements. We are however creating lakes for the specific purpose of recyling this water, especially in the dry season.

''The authorities had photographic proof of what they were told was pumps for releasing sewage into the sea. These pictures were in fact of pumps for lifting fresh underground water from our licensed wells and their storage tanks.

Whilst here, the Vice Governor highlighted that he thought we should be licensed as an hotel. We had been advised by our consultants that we should apply for this after the development was completed.

''The Vice Governor stated that he thought that was wrong and asked us to apply now for an hotel license as soon as possible. We said that if that was his wish, we would happily comply and commence the application immediately.

''However The Village has been paying fees to the local authorities for Villa rentals and has licenses for its restaurants bars and all other areas as required by Thai Law.

''Overall The Vice Governor was understanding of the problems of construction, especially on an island. His team were generally very supportive of what we are doing and looked forward to returning to inspect the finished 'hotel' development in the New Year.''