A PARLIAMENTARY environment committee from Bangkok headed for Racha island from Phuket today to investigate claims of damage by a construction barge to a coral reef.

The barge damage is just one of a list of complaints by locals extending back over two years, to when construction of the Rayaburi Resort began.

The president of the Racha Island Conservation Committee, Salid Jandee, said that, among other issues, locals' access to the Ao Siam beach had been restricted because of construction vehicles.

After visiting the island, Senator Prasarn Marukpitak agreed that the barge had damaged the coral reef, that the public thoroughfare had been blocked, and that construction had taken place without permission.

Resort owners Somchat Somname and Supannee Ackachakul talked to the senator and produce the title deeds to the land.

The Rawai local tessaban administration has halted construction of the pair's Rayaburi Resort because the plans had not been authorised by the tessaban.

However, the developers claim the public road belongs to them.

Satellite pictures will be tracked to determine whether the road has been there long enough to be claimed as a public thoroughfare.

The resort is 60 percent complete but Rawai tessaban spokesperson, engineer Anukul Tongplew, said officials were not aware that construction had been continuing, even after two years.

Police investigations are to continue. Breaches of the law could bring hefty fines, or even jail.

Vice Governor Tree Ackaradeat accompanied the parliamentary committee on today's Racha visit.

The committee also looked at a contentious project on Phuket: a resort planned for the banks of the Klong Pakbang, at the south end of Patong beach.

The views of the committee should be known in two weeks.