B2bn tsunami memorial proposed

PHUKET CITY: Plodprasop Suraswadi, Adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, today announced that a proposal to build a memorial to remember the victims of the December 26 tsunami with a budget of up to 2 billion baht will be submitted to Cabinet for approval next Tuesday.

At a high-level meeting of officials from Phuket and Phang Nga at the Phuket Provincial Hall, K. Plodprasop said that he will propose a dome, with a high-tech “crystal” prism to display the names of known victims, to be built in the sea just off Bang Niang Beach, in the Khao Lak area.

The dome would be sited just off a 300-rai plot of state land, which K. Plodprasop said would be set aside to remember the tsunami and will include a park.

“We will develop the area from the [stranded] Marine Police boat near the hills down to the sea. The total land area for this project is 300 rai,” he said.

Although he must first submit the proposal to DPM Suwat, who will in turn submit it to Cabinet, K. Plodprasop added that he was certain the project would be approved because it is in line with current government policy.

“The government has already earmarked between 1.5 and 2 billion baht to build the memorial,” he said.

“In my opinion, the memorial should be open by December 26 this year, one year after the tsunami hit, so people can hold ceremonies to remember their loved ones who were lost to the wave,” he added.

Along with the tsunami memorial proposal, the Cabinet will also review whether to build the long-awaited Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center at Nai Yang in Tambon Mai Khao or Saphan Hin, K. Prodprasop said.

“I will present two suitable sites; one at Mai Khao and another at Saphan Hin. I am confident that Cabinet will make a decision. The budget for this project will be about 1.5 to 2 billion baht,” he said.