Ministry pursues Phuket land recovery

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Thailand is stepping up its campaign to recover 25 rai of protected land within Sirinat National Park in Phuket. This initiative targets areas in the Thalang district that have been illegally encroached upon.

Minister Suchart Chomklin has directed officials to enforce Supreme Court judgments in two key cases. One involves a 13-rai plot in tambon Sakhu, where a land-use certificate has been ordered revoked, leading to the planned demolition of 39 hotel and villa structures. Another case concerns a 12-rai plot in tambon Choeng Thale, where authorities discovered a title deed was issued based on forged documents.

Occupants of these encroached areas have been given a 15-day ultimatum to comply before demolition commences under national park law. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee stressed that legal proceedings will be impartial. "There will be no exceptions and no preferential treatment for influential figures or investment groups," he stated, emphasizing that natural resources must be returned to the state.

Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), confirmed that six encroachment cases are currently being pursued in Sirinat National Park. The DNP is also collaborating with the Interior Ministry and the Department of Lands to bolster investigations into land titles. Meanwhile, Phuket authorities are reviewing over 1,000 businesses for registration compliance and continuing probes into alleged encroachment on beaches and public lands.

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There will be no exceptions and no preferential treatment for influential figures or investment groups. Natural resources must be returned to the state.