‘Green’ road plan sparks stiff opposition in Phuket

[Lite Beer]

‘Green’ road plan sparks stiff opposition in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: A proposal to build a road just under 2.5 kilometres long, which would come close to Freedom Beach – which at the moment can be reached only by boat or bay hacking through forest – has been slammed as potentially opening the area up to a frenzy of corruption and land grabbing.

Chairat Sukban, Deputy Mayor of Patong Municipality, denied that there were any ulterior motives in the
Patong Municipality this morning (October 16) held a public hearing about the concept of building a “green road” from Sirirat Rd at the north end through to Muen Ngern Rd.

However, the project has been opposed by some because of doubts over its suitability and the possibility it may spark a land-grabbing frenzy.

Land next to Freedom Beach was the subject of an investigation by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and land papers covering 64 rai were later rescinded because they had been corruptly issued. Before that the land had been advertised for sale for billions of baht.

Opponents believe that building a road along the edge of that 64 rai is likely to promote development greed and a new round of corruption as unscrupulous people try to grab the land between the road and the beach.

But Chairat Sukban, Deputy Mayor of Patong Municipality, denied that there were any ulterior motives in the plan. He said there were three reasons for it: to create an additional escape route in case of a tsunami; to ease traffic on the existing road; and to create a “green route” for tourists.

“The route of the road is bordered by SorPorKor land or Forest Reserve, and there is already a dirt road, so we have to designed it so it will not affect the forest, local people or land owners.”

Tambon Karon Headman Kamnan Winai Chidchiew, who opposed the project, said, “First of all, we have to ask who will they use our money for? Who are the ‘locals’ they say will benefit? Real local people who live locally? Or locals as in business people?”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/%E2%80%98green%E2%80%99-road-plan-sparks-stiff-opposition-in-phuket-42395.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2013-10-16

[Skorz]

That is the question. Who are the locals who will benefit?

In answer, locals never benefit in these situations, except in the very imediate short term when they rush to clear and then sell their piece of land and proceed to blow the cash on a new Hilux, Jukebox and a couple of crates of Laokao. The remainder of the land will then be grabbed by local politicians and landscaped and sliced up, and illegal titles will then spew forth. The forest and any remaining wildlife will also be destroyed during the construction of the road and associated infrastructure (roadside shacks, drains, services etc) by the chang workers shipped in from the North/Burma.

In two or three years the landscape will look like any other once forested area in Phuket in that it will be reduced to scrub, shacks and piles of shit and litter. Nothing will actually get built except brothels and beer bars because all the illegal titles sold to farangs will get rendered worthless. The road will then crumble to dust and everybody will blame everybody else.

The locals who benefit are the ones who initially acquire and offload the fake titles. The mayor, the surveyors, the cops. Usual bunch of rogues.

[LeeThayer]

My thoughts exactly!

[hansgruber]

The excuse for a tsunami escape route is far fetched and reeks of bullshit.

[steelepulse]

Will that SorPorKor land suddenly be on the list for an upgrade?

Sounds like a great money making scheme for the local politicians. Use gov't money to fund, then when "concessions" are sold this money filters directly into politicians pockets. Business as usual!

[timewilltell]

Sometimes you have to hate what goes on here with all the corruption - will it ever begin to be tackled? Why do Thais just not give a care to the rape of their country by these traitors?

[samuibruno]

Sometimes you have to hate what goes on here with all the corruption - will it ever begin to be tackled? Why do Thais just not give a care to the rape of their country by these traitors?

the raping is of course the work of Falangs as local thai people are not like that

and the corruption is directly because of tourists

please keep up to speed with the news

[jmccarty]

Sounds like a new idea. Put a road along a beach and then businesses, hotels and restaurants on the other side. Then people can sit and watch the traffic jam. This may catch on!