Community National Parks Department Halts Elephant Trench Project After Structural Collapse

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of Matichon.

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered an immediate halt to the construction of a new elephant trench project in Chachoengsao Province after multiple sections of a newly built concrete barrier collapsed.

 

Photos circulated widely on social media this week showed the crumbling of the reinforced concrete barrier, which is part of a 10-kilometre trench project designed to prevent wild elephants from encroaching on nearby communities. The project, worth over 40 million baht is being built at a cost of 4.2 million baht per kilometre and runs through Tha Takiab District into Sanam Chai Khet District.

 

Public outrage followed the viral images, with citizens raising questions about poor construction standards, possible design flaws, and accountability. Critics noted that the structure failed even before completion, prompting calls for urgent investigation.

On 7 May, the DNP’s official Facebook page released a statement from Mr Kongkiat Temtanan, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 2 (Sriracha), clarifying that the damage was caused by a landslide at a known vulnerable point, which had not yet been fully addressed. The damaged portion, located in the first kilometre of the trench near Sanam Chai Khet Subdistrict, has reportedly been under contractor review since February.

 

Mr Kongkiat confirmed that the contractor had been ordered to dismantle and rebuild the damaged section to meet the original project specifications. However, the contractor has not yet taken action.

 

He emphasised that the project remains under construction and that no official handover or financial disbursement has occurred. Construction has now been suspended pending a full damage assessment. Discussions are also underway with the project’s design authority, the Regional Water Resources Office 6, which noted that the use of reinforced concrete slabs may not be suitable for areas with steep slopes due to soil pressure.

 

On 8 May, a team of four engineers from the Department’s Restoration Division is scheduled to visit the site to examine whether the damage stems from construction failures or flaws in the design itself.

 

Should the project be cancelled, it will follow formal procedures for project termination and budget reassignment. Mr Kongkiat assured the public that the department is committed to addressing the issue transparently and ensuring the project’s integrity and public benefit.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-09.

 

 

 

 

[Rimmer]

Looks they have no piled footings, for that price height and height it should have, but it looks like  it is just leaning against a mud bank, they should have pilings and water drain holes.

 

My perimeter walls are 3 to 5 meters in height with footings and cost B2500 a meter