Claims of illicit land use in Phuket probed

The check has been prompted by a recent finding that 65 rai (10.4 hectares) on Freedom Beach currently used by resorts had intruded into a forest reserve in Phuket, said Royal Forest Department director-general Suwit Rattanamanee.
“The land-ownership documents have been issued unlawfully, and revocation of them would involve the Land Department,” he said.
An RFD inspection will also begin soon in nearby Krabi province, where suspected encroachment of restricted land is reportedly widespread, he said. There is a case of a hotel located on a sloped area, which should not be lawfully transferable land, he added.
A crackdown will be launched soon in five provinces in other regions – Phetchabun, Lampang and Chiang Rai in the North, Kanchanaburi in the West, Rayong and Chanthaburi in the East.
“Encroachment on land in these provinces involves large areas, from 100 to 1,000 rai, for farming and rubber plantation,” he said.
Speaking yesterday at an exhibition marking World Forestry Day and Thailand’s National Forest Conservation Day, Suwit said the RFD would soon begin a restoration programme at the source of waterways in eight key river basins in the North.
The first project in Phrae province is aimed at expanding the areas to 80,000 rai this year, and to 400,000 rai in the next four years.