Peace returns after compromise on island off Phuket

Tanyaluk Sakoot

The klong is almost dry now that polluted water held back by the illegal dam has been released. Photo Vice-Governor Suthee Thongyam

PHUKET: The cleaning up of the klong on Racha Yai, which started on March 7, is going well, officials say, now that some hiccups have been ironed out.

An illegal dam built across the klong by the Rayaburi Resort to allow vehicles to get to the resort, and to carry power cables, has been destroyed. So has a nearby old wooden footbridge, also built illegally by the resort, and also carrying power cables.

On Monday officials met with representatives of the resort who were concerned that, with the dam gone, they now have no way to deliver supplies to the resort or bring guests in and out.

The klong is now dry, so after discussions between officials and resort management, it was agreed that Rayaburi staff could flatten the bottom of the klong, where the dam had been ripped out, to allow vehicles to pass as a temporary solution.

Resort staff set to work on that the following day.

A representative of the resort told The Phuket News today, “We have negotiated a solution about the crossing. We just wanted to find a way that would allow us to cross the klong before a new bridge can built.”

The Director of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre (MCRCC), Thanet Mannoi, noted, “The resort must talk with the Phuket Marine Office about the bridge.”

Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut, who is responsible for issuing permits for any structure impinging on a water source, said, “I have received no request yet from Rayaburi Resort to build a bridge.”

As for the pollution that had piled up behind Rayaburi’s dam, Mr Thanet said that officials want to organise a meeting with all the businesses on the island to figure out who is polluting and solutions to the problem.

The representative of the resort denied that Rayaburi was responsible for the pollution. “The pollution comes from many places. Our resort is at the seaward end of the klong.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/peace-returns-after-compromise-on-island-off-phuket-51499.php

-- Phuket News 2015-03-19

They are lucky they have been allowed to stay open and also not being sued for building two structures blocking the canal in the first place without the proper government go ahead.

Thainess, never are they responsable!

It is very important to enforce the law now, compermise only weekens the law and than compermises those who enforce it.

Lets get the problems solved before we place blame.

Fix the problem usually requires no compermise on either side, everyone wins.

Talk it out, fix it!

>>The representative of the resort denied that Rayaburi was responsible for the pollution. “The pollution comes from many places. Our resort is at the seaward end of the klong.”

It's not just us, it's everyone else too!

Thainess, never are they responsable!

Nor are they reasonable.

Oh well good luck with finding out who has been polluting the place