Rayong beach project under question
A fact-finding panel should investigate the project of developing Rayong's Mae Rumphueng Beach, which had been approved by Royal Forest Department (RFD) chief Suwit Rattanamanee in September 2010.
Damrong Phidej, chief of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (NPWPCD), said yesterday that the beach is reportedly covered with up to 30 fishermen’s homes and shop houses as well as septic tanks.
Following a recent inspection of the project meant for sustainable tourism, Damrong said the project was reportedly 80-per-cent complete yet there were many buildings impinging on the area.
The project is jointly organised by the Rayong public works and city-planning office as well as the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samet National Park. He said permanent buildings occupied 11 kilometres of the beach’s 12-km area, even though the public park space should be open for walking.
Initial investigation found that Suwit had approved the project, which had been granted Bt120 million under the Thai Khemkhaeng project and Bt13 million from Rayong authorities, he said.
The project is jointly organised by the Rayong public works and city-planning office as well as the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samet National Park. He said permanent buildings occupied 11 kilometres of the beach’s 12-km area, even though the public park space should be open for walking.
Initial investigation found that Suwit had approved the project, which had been granted Bt120 million under the Thai Khemkhaeng project and Bt13 million from Rayong authorities, he said.
Damrong said Suwit’s action had puzzled him because he had allowed people to violate the law by allowing them to use public space to build on. He said that this is the reason why he had asked the Rayong provincial administrative organisation to bring the project to a halt and told a fact-finding committee led by department inspector-general Thiti Kanokthaweekan to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Suwit said he had approved the project because local bodies had previously okayed it, though he did admit that he should have read the project plan in detail. He said that he would accept the investigation result, and that if the buildings were found to be illegal the park department had the authority to demolish them.
Arkhom Namkham, Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samet National Park chief, said the project had been approved before his time but he believed the provincial authorities and the department intended to solve the encroachment problem. Hence, the Mae Rumphueng Beach Committee was set up and that the landscape-improving project was nearly 80-per-cent complete with just 10 fishermens’ houses and 20 shops left to build. However, he said he was afraid that the structures would support only 50 per cent of the residents and that having permanent structures on the beach could lead to other developments being built, which would affect the beach management.
Arkhom Namkham, Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samet National Park chief, said the project had been approved before his time but he believed the provincial authorities and the department intended to solve the encroachment problem. Hence, the Mae Rumphueng Beach Committee was set up and that the landscape-improving project was nearly 80-per-cent complete with just 10 fishermens’ houses and 20 shops left to build. However, he said he was afraid that the structures would support only 50 per cent of the residents and that having permanent structures on the beach could lead to other developments being built, which would affect the beach management.
An informed source reported that the project aimed to build 41 restaurants plus an activity plaza and toilets, 30 fishery houses and 89 shops renting beach lounges.
