Villagers below Phuket Big Buddha still living in fear


An alms bowl lying among debris makes it quite clear where the slides originate.

PHUKET: -- A year since they first complained of landslides, people in homes below the Big Buddha still live in fear that they may be buried in mud and rocks any day.

Villager Chalong Loysamut told The Phuket News that was recently driving up the road below the Big Buddha when he spotted a crane truck at the top. This, he said, might shake more soil loose.

Suporn Wanitchakul, President of the Creation Committee of the Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation replied, “There is nothing to worry about. The land department gave grass to me, which I have planted in the landslide areas. There is no problem, even when it is raining.”

But Mr Chalong said, “We keep hearing that they will fix [the landslip problem]. But until now no serious attempts have been made to solve it.

“Every time I go up to the Big Buddha everything is the same. Nothing has changed. We have sent repeated requests to officials but we have received no response. And construction continues up there.”

Phuket Vice-Governor Somkiet Sungkhaosutthirak, who inspected landslide damage in March this year, told The Phuket News, “I have heard about this. But, it seems that Karon Municipality has done nothing about it.

“I will check it out and remind Karon again.”

A spokesperson for Karon Municipality Land Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Municipality had already ordered all construction work on the Big Buddha stopped.

“Karon Municipality has responsibility for approving all buildings in the area except the Big Buddha. That is the responsibility of the Forestry Department.

“If [the plans for] this structure had come to me, it would not be approved because it is about 300 metres above sea level – well above the 80-metre limit. All we can do is order them to cease construction.”

Angkarak Ritthirut, Director of Krabi-based Forestry Department Area 12, which covers Phuket, told The Phuket News, “I have already told the [big Buddha] foundation to stop construction.

“The foundation is now just decorating the inside of the structure, which has no effect on the land around the site. We have already planted grasses and trees in the area.”

He said that the Big Buddha might not be the sole cause of erosion and landslips. “There could be other reasons such as market gardening or planting of rubber trees, which have very shallow roots.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/villagers-below-phuket-big-buddha-still-living-in-fear-49251.php


-- Phuket News 2014-10-21

Thailand has laws, but never enforced! One day.

Finger pointing and excuses, nothing new here.

"grass and rubber trees have shallow roots"

A good disaster will ensure it gets addressed.

Much of the damage is hidden because they smear concrete over the land slip and paint it green.

Its way worse than being reported.

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Just before the concrete laid over it all and painted green.

Pathetic. The water run off just goes right onto the hill slopes.

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