Koh Samui, Surat Thani:- The Surat Thani provincial governor Sunday issued an ultimatum for the Samui Municipality to hire a new firm to dispose over 200,000 tons of accumulated garbage by Saturday.

The governor, Chatpong Chatphum, threatened to have the National Council for Peace and Order chief invoke Article 44 to give him the power to take the problem into his own hands if the municipality keeps dragging feet in hiring a new contractor to dispose the garbage.

The stench from the huge pile of 200,000 tons of garbage on the tiny tourist-destination island, known in the past as a paradise island, prompted local people to file complaints with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also the NCPO chief.

The prime minister told the provincial administration to tackle the problem within a month.

Chatpont said the Samui Municipality must sign a contract to hire a new firm by Saturday so that the garbage would be transported to a landfill on the mainland of Surat Thani. He said the transport of garbage to be buried on the mainland must be done in six months.

The governor said the transport of garbage to a mainland landfill would not contaminate the sea because the garbage would be transported in containers that waste water could not seep out.

After the previous contractor failed to dispose the garbage in line with the contract, the municipality cancelled the contract and planned to hire a new contractor. However, ensued legal dispute prompted the signing of the contract to be delayed by about six months now.

New garbage is accumulating on the island at the rate of 140 tons per day and more than 200,000 tons have piled up during the past two years.

No planning, this a common trait for Thailand.

At least they don't want to build a nuclear power plant.

Just dump in the Gulf I guess...

What about the garbage that controls the island?

Most of the 140 tons is on the corner of Soi 7 here in Plai Leam let alone another 1000 ton throughout Banrak

Time for action from above before we have a major health hazard

At least it is a start. (and my glass is half full )

I ask again, what about the Incinerator near the Prison?

That hasn't worked in more than a decade!

The governor, Chatpong Chatphum, threatened to have the National Council for Peace and Order chief invoke Article 44 to give him the power to take the problem into his own hands...

Tossing around the threat of Article 44 sure has become the rage lately with government officials. I guess invoking Article 44 gives cover by implying the problem was too big to solve through normal channels...and gives cover for earlier failure by government officials to address & solve problems.

Seems to me a month or two back (perhaps a bit longer?) .... when the new contractor took over, that they were using much smaller collection trucks, perhaps this is part of the problem, too much time to have to go empty them so they cannot keep up?

This amounted to nearly 1000 baht for recycling ...... A lot more of this could be done....

More people should Separate out recyclables from general garbage cans, cardboard, glass etc.... even putting it in separate bags .... some one will take it!

Ship it via barge to Singapore they will most likely be happy to take it, they might even ask you if they can keep the ash for use in land reclamation. Since the incinerator you own is in functional which is just ludicrous. How does one let a key piece of infrastructure will so much become inoperable.

I don't get it.

Why this fuss about garbage we cannot see from Bangkok?

All this is in keeping with Thaness and age old policies spelled out in the National Manual of Maintenance.

It reads:

MAINTENANCE: "When something breaks or stops working as it should, repair or replace only if it is strictly necessary. This applies to balding tires, elevator cables, electrical wiring, etc."

SANITATION: "Should be conducted only when rubbish impedes vehicular traffic, annoys sensitivities of Hi-Sos or affects the fleecing of tourists".

I don't get it.

Why this fuss about garbage we cannot see from Bangkok?

All this is in keeping with Thaness and age old policies spelled out in the National Manual of Maintenance.

It reads:

MAINTENANCE: "When something breaks or stops working as it should, repair or replace only if it is strictly necessary. This applies to balding tires, elevator cables, electrical wiring, etc."

SANITATION: "Should be conducted only when rubbish impedes vehicular traffic, annoys sensitivities of Hi-Sos or affects the fleecing of tourists".

Maybe it cannot be seen from Bangkok, but seems the stink has reached Bangkok...

Again, way too late to correct what local stupidity and greed has made out of this once a little paradise island..

I ask again, what about the Incinerator near the Prison?

It was never meant to reduce garbage. Only to steal money paid by the government.

That hasn't worked in more than a decade!

Correct. Same with the waste water treatment plant in Chaweng. Unbelievable corruption and incompetence.

When I read these threads I get very sad for Thailand. Is there no hope for this land

Seems govt officials are threatening Article 44 action for most every problem now. Overuse or threatening to use Article 44 for every problem will backfire in many cases.