PHUKET: A Phuket vice governor berated a group of officials from several Phuket departments and a local council today for not enforcing laws to stop the filling of a lagoon in Phuket City.
Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak was particularly critical of Natural Resources and Environment, the Highways Department and Rassada council for not pursuing a request for action from the Governor.
As a result, residents complaining about the damaging effect of dust and trucks on their health took their complaints to Bangkok where they requested help from the Interior Ministry and the Ombudsman.
The junior representatives sent to today's meeting struggled to field the vice governor's questions about the lack of action on the project.
''We've met several times and we've been to the site several times,'' Vice Governor Somkiet said. ''But two months later, nothing has been done.''
The representative from Natural Resources actually told the meeting that while Act 12 (3) of his department's regulations prohibited the filling of lakes, it was up to the local council to enforce it.
''It's up to the local council to enforce your regulations?'' the vice governor asked, incredulous.
The problem arose when the owner of the lake, not far off Phuket's main bypass road, was given permission to reinforce a bank where erosion appeared likely to undermine a nearby road.
The trucks began filling the lake and have hardly stopped since, sending dust into the air and over surrounding suburbs as the vehicles use a road where 10-wheel vehicles are banned.
The filling in of the lake is likely to create flooding when surface water that the lake would normally hold runs in other directions.
Some observers have said water could even affect the new underpass being constructed at the Tesco-Lotus corner.
''You have to work, not just enjoy your life on Phuket,'' Vice Governor Somkiet told the officials. What he said echoes remarks made by Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada at Tuesday's meeting about billboards.
''Are we happy with Phuket like this? Are we going to let it stay like this?'' he asked.
Governor Maitree Intrusud, who was unavoidably delayed and arrived late at today's meeting, told Phuketwan that Natural Resources ''has to move on the lagoon.''
Town and Country Planning and the Industry Department will also be required to examine the lakes history to determine whether it is a disused tin mine and who owns the land title.
''The council has to determine how many residents have had their health affected.''
The results would be presented to the police for investigation and the processing of a possible prosecution, Governor Maitree said.
Phuketwan first reported that the lake was being overfilled on February 7 and again on February 27.
The residents believe the pond's owner thinks the area will be more valuable as a property development rather than a community asset which could be used to boost Phuket's limited water supplies.
The lagoon being filled in is the largest of three ponds between the Samkong Shrine and the Phuket Butterfly Garden, close to Pracha Uthit Road.
Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak was particularly critical of Natural Resources and Environment, the Highways Department and Rassada council for not pursuing a request for action from the Governor.
As a result, residents complaining about the damaging effect of dust and trucks on their health took their complaints to Bangkok where they requested help from the Interior Ministry and the Ombudsman.
The junior representatives sent to today's meeting struggled to field the vice governor's questions about the lack of action on the project.
''We've met several times and we've been to the site several times,'' Vice Governor Somkiet said. ''But two months later, nothing has been done.''
The representative from Natural Resources actually told the meeting that while Act 12 (3) of his department's regulations prohibited the filling of lakes, it was up to the local council to enforce it.
''It's up to the local council to enforce your regulations?'' the vice governor asked, incredulous.
The problem arose when the owner of the lake, not far off Phuket's main bypass road, was given permission to reinforce a bank where erosion appeared likely to undermine a nearby road.
The trucks began filling the lake and have hardly stopped since, sending dust into the air and over surrounding suburbs as the vehicles use a road where 10-wheel vehicles are banned.
The filling in of the lake is likely to create flooding when surface water that the lake would normally hold runs in other directions.
Some observers have said water could even affect the new underpass being constructed at the Tesco-Lotus corner.
''You have to work, not just enjoy your life on Phuket,'' Vice Governor Somkiet told the officials. What he said echoes remarks made by Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada at Tuesday's meeting about billboards.
''Are we happy with Phuket like this? Are we going to let it stay like this?'' he asked.
Governor Maitree Intrusud, who was unavoidably delayed and arrived late at today's meeting, told Phuketwan that Natural Resources ''has to move on the lagoon.''
Town and Country Planning and the Industry Department will also be required to examine the lakes history to determine whether it is a disused tin mine and who owns the land title.
''The council has to determine how many residents have had their health affected.''
The results would be presented to the police for investigation and the processing of a possible prosecution, Governor Maitree said.
Phuketwan first reported that the lake was being overfilled on February 7 and again on February 27.
The residents believe the pond's owner thinks the area will be more valuable as a property development rather than a community asset which could be used to boost Phuket's limited water supplies.
The lagoon being filled in is the largest of three ponds between the Samkong Shrine and the Phuket Butterfly Garden, close to Pracha Uthit Road.
'It's not my responsibility, it's someone else's'. Starting to sound like a broken record for Phuket - or at least a top ten hit.
Meanwhile things get to the point where its too late to reverse them and the envelopes get fuller as a Nelsonian Eye is turned to the problem.
Posted by Mister Ree on April 10, 2014 15:16