Chiang Mai zipline owner to face encroachment charges

[snoop1130]

Chiang Mai zipline owner to face encroachment charges

By The Nation

 

 

The owner of a zipline on Chiang Mai’s new popular tourist spot at Mon Jam in Mae Rim district will be charged with illegally encroaching on the forest reserve, the Forest Protecting Operation Centre says.

 

Attapol Charoenchansa, the centre’s chief who is also deputy chief of the Royal Forestry Department, led a special forest suppression taskforce Phayak Prai, and Tourist Police Bureau, to inspect the area on Thursday before learning about the alleged encroachment on the A1 watershed and part of the Nong Hoi Rotal project.

 

The officers seized equipment and plan to lay a charge against its owner, Attapol said.

 

Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan, the bureau’s acting commander said police have received complaints in regard to illegal encroachment upon forest reserves by the zipline attraction. 

 

The structure obstructed natural streams and had no licence to operate, he said. In some cases, injuries or even deaths of visitors were reported, prompting police to take action.

 

Attapol said that officers have so far inspected 12 zipline operations in Chiang Mai. Seven have been charged for illegally encroaching upon forests and three have been dismantled.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30329680

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-19

[ChrisY1]

The whole tourist thing in this region seems to be illegal.....12 inspections and 10 have issues!

[Ruffian Dick]

Looks more like a roller-coaster from the picture.

This is probably the attraction:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1766192-d8850589-Reviews-Monjam_Zipline_Adventure-Mae_Rim.html

They must have been bribing officials for years. Imagine this happening at Yosemite or some other national park.

Hoping this opens up more wildlife habitat.

[worgeordie]

How do they just find these places,after they are up and running,sometimes years later,

the same with encroached houses and resorts,and they also seem to (sometimes) catch

the loggers after they have cut the trees down.maybe they need to get out of the office more.

regards worgeordie

[Maejo Man]

They should close the lot of them. An utter blight on a beautiful part of the Mae Rim valley.

[MaeJoMTB]

12 hours ago, worgeordie said:

How do they just find these places,after they are up and running,sometimes years later,

the same with encroached houses and resorts,and they also seem to (sometimes) catch

the loggers after they have cut the trees down.maybe they need to get out of the office more.

regards worgeordie

It's usually when the official they used to bribe gets replaced by a new boy.

I walk and cycle past several of these roller coaster/zipline places and they ALL appear to be using nationl park land.

[Thailand]

Three people pointing, this is obviously important.

[Sparkles]

23 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Three people pointing, this is obviously important.

Yes and all in different directions.

 

Its normal practice in most countries to make a "Development Application before you begin construction and operation.

 

Go along Samoeng Rd from the Hang Dong Rd for a few kms and there is a massive development on the left hand side up a very steep,narrow road.                I watched this being built in amazement when a friend, who works close by, said it was illegal,built on forestery land.

 

We are talking about zillions of baht spent which may now be reduced to rubble unles an "ageement"  can be found.

 

I guess a zipline is easily transferable to yet another site

 

 

 

[YetAnother]

i really do not understand the problem; we do not enforce laws here

[Ruffian Dick]

The issue may have begun with the typical mai-bpen-rai thought that ziplines are mostly in the treetops and don't affect the ground very much. So it would be sort of all right if they were in the national park.

But as you can see, the Thais cut corners again and began building a ground-level roller coaster.

[CMKiwi]

It seems to be that its easier to enforce the law after the event.  Now you wouldnt want the authorities to actually educate people on the rules/laws would you?  Heavens above, that doesnt leave any doors open for later donations if one should wish to continue in their 'illegal' activities.

 

It even crosses over to traffic enforcement and we all know how that works...or not!