Bt126m funding for Phuket development projects

PHUKET: The central government has approved some 126 million baht for Phuket development projects to be carried out during Fiscal Year 2011, which starts on October 1, 2010.

Five Andaman coast provinces were allocated more than 641 million baht in total for local development projects. Trang had the most funding, 140 million baht, followed by Krabi (Bt135m), Phuket (Bt126m), Phang Nga (123m) and Ranong (Bt116m).

“The biggest project is the Thalang Victory Memorial Park, which has a budget of about 26 million baht,” said Prajiad Aksornthammakul, head of the Phuket Provincial Development Strategy Planning Group.

A total of 46 projects will receive funding, he said.

“All 46 projects must be started in the fiscal year 2011, but local administrations can apply for more budget from the next fiscal year, 2012, if the projects are not completed in the same year,” said Mr Prajiad.

Although Cabinet approved the development project budgets last week, it has yet to be confirmed when the money will be made locally available, he added.

— Atchaa Khamlo