Phuket authorities refer 39 cases over alleged public-land encroachment
Authorities are pursuing cases linked to four key Phuket locations and checking hundreds of additional land-ownership records.
Authorities in Phuket have referred 39 cases for prosecution as part of efforts to reclaim public land at four key locations, according to a report by Thai Post. The report said most of the land was held by foreign-capital groups.
The locations under legal action are Sirinat National Park, Freedom Beach, Bang Tao Beach and Nui Beach. Officials from the Royal Forest Department and Department of National Parks have notified occupants, with statutory public notices to be used if they refuse to acknowledge the notifications.
Authorities have also coordinated with the Board of Investment to examine ownership rights. The report said checks on 30 cases had been confirmed, while a further 317 cases were undergoing an in-depth investigation. If violations or nominee arrangements are found, officials will coordinate with the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office and the Department of Business Development to pursue legal action.
For newly identified areas, provincial land officials have been instructed to verify the validity of title documents for every plot, including areas where title documents have been issued.
In the Bang Tao Beach area, the Thalang district chief reported that people accused of encroachment had begun removing structures or other developments. The district and the Thalang Land Office were instructed to conduct another detailed boundary survey to confirm that all encroaching developments had been removed from the disputed area.
The report also said the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources had been instructed two days earlier to investigate land alterations that caused soil erosion into the sea and affected coral reefs. The Phuket Office of Natural Resources and Environment was told to identify those responsible for releasing wastewater into public areas.
