HM gives nod for life-size statue in Hua Hin reservoir

HM gives nod for life-size statue in Hua Hin reservoir
THE SUNDAY NATION

HUA HIN: -- A PLAN to build a life-size statue of His Majesty the King, to be installed at Khao Tao Reservoir in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district, has got the nod from the monarch, according to the provincial governor.

Governor Weera Sriwattanatrakul said yesterday that the statue was intended to honour the King on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2017.

"This project has already got permission from His Majesty the King. It will be completed in 2016," he said.

The statue in a standing position will be 2.3 metres high, including the base. It will be placed in a Thai-style royal pavilion, with high stilts, to be constructed in the middle of the reservoir.

The reservoir was the first royal project initiated by the King for water resources.

Prachuap Khiri Khan's governor said the statue was also aimed at recognising the King's kindness in initiating the reservoir, which has been of great benefit to local residents.

He said members of the public were invited to donate to help fund construction of the statue. The process of casting the statue was underway at a foundry in Ayutthaya, he added.

Weera also said that an official press conference has been scheduled for the coming Thursday at the reservoir.

Pichet Panapong, chief of civil works and city planning in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said that his office was responsible for designing the pavilion that would house the statue. He said the cost of building the pavilion was estimated at more than Bt20 million. Construction was likely to start next month if things went as planned.

Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wuthikul said he was overjoyed to hear that the project to build the royal statue had got the green light from His Majesty. "I am confident that Hua Hin residents will also be happy to hear about this news. We will have a part in building His Majesty's statue," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/HM-gives-nod-for-life-size-statue-in-Hua-Hin-reser-30266670.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-16