Piers for Similan-bound boats encroach on forest reserves, public water
FOUR PIERS allegedly constructed to specially transport Chinese tourists to popular islands in Phang-nga province, including the famed Similan, have been found to be encroaching upon the forest reserve of Khlong Thung Maprao.
Forest officials have examined the locations of the piers with satellite photographs and learned that they are located in the forest reserve, said Cheewapap Cheewatham, a chief of the Forest Protection Operation Centre’s forest crime suppression taskforce, Phayak Prai.
The officials also learned that none of the piers had any permits to operate. If the pier owners fail to produce land deed documents, they would face charges of encroaching upon the forest, he said.
The piers were also found to encroach upon public waterways. They also lacked construction permits and so would also have violated the construction laws.
Phang-nga deputy governor Phakphum Intarasuwan said the wrongdoings are the result of the selfishness of some operators who exploit public properties for their own benefit.
The low-budget tour operations targeting Chinese tourists, also known as “zero dollar tour” scams, exploit tourists and Thailand’s resources, and should no longer be present in any province, said the deputy governor. His province would join with concerned authorities to suppress the activity, Phakphum added.
