PHUKET: A large new resort under investigation as possibly encroaching on Phuket parkland was destroyed in a billion baht blaze early today.
The 74-room Phuket Peninsular Spa & Resort, at the southern end of Phuket's Nai Yang beach, was 80 percent complete.
Ten fire trucks fought the blaze for three hours but were unable to stop the resort being razed. Access to the resort was severely limited.
Construction of the Peninsular had been halted because of a controversial investigation by former Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation chief Damrong ''The Demolisher'' Pidech, who instigated investigations last year over 14 major Phuket resort and villa projects.
The owners had yet to contact police after the blaze, officers said today. Police from Tachatchai station said they had found vehicles parked at the site that may have been used by thieves or looters.
The five-star resorts and villa property operations bordering Phuket's Sirinath National Park were named in the initial investigations, with probes on another 366 plots of land yet to move beyond the planning stages.
Local residents had also protested about the resort's alleged use of a public road as a private road.
In November, Phuketwan reported that big banks were lobbying Thailand's Government because they have the most to lose if allegedly stolen parkland was restored on Phuket.
However, long court cases were anticipated in the event of formal accusations being made.
The 74-room Phuket Peninsular Spa & Resort, at the southern end of Phuket's Nai Yang beach, was 80 percent complete.
Ten fire trucks fought the blaze for three hours but were unable to stop the resort being razed. Access to the resort was severely limited.
Construction of the Peninsular had been halted because of a controversial investigation by former Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation chief Damrong ''The Demolisher'' Pidech, who instigated investigations last year over 14 major Phuket resort and villa projects.
The owners had yet to contact police after the blaze, officers said today. Police from Tachatchai station said they had found vehicles parked at the site that may have been used by thieves or looters.
The five-star resorts and villa property operations bordering Phuket's Sirinath National Park were named in the initial investigations, with probes on another 366 plots of land yet to move beyond the planning stages.
Local residents had also protested about the resort's alleged use of a public road as a private road.
In November, Phuketwan reported that big banks were lobbying Thailand's Government because they have the most to lose if allegedly stolen parkland was restored on Phuket.
However, long court cases were anticipated in the event of formal accusations being made.
Karma and the year of the water snake = payback. No great loss at all.
Posted by Annon on February 11, 2013 15:09