Committee appointed to protect waterways

PHUKET: In an attempt to prevent flooding and landslides, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has appointed a committee to screen applications for excavation work affecting waterways. He also suggested today that excavation on private property may be forbidden if it is likely to affect waterways, or trigger landslides or flooding. “I think that we will have to propose that it be added in the Ministry of Science’s rules that excavation on private property that will change waterways will have to be forbidden, even if it isn’t for commercial purposes,” the Governor said. “Right now the rules forbid it only if it is for commercial purposes. “People will have to make some sacrifices,” he said. “We must look at long-term effects, not the short term.” Headed by Vice-Governor Manit Wattanasen, the committee will consist of the chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Works Office, the chief of the Phuket Provincial Mineral Resources Office, the Provincial Palad, the Chief and other officers from the Provincial Land Office, the Chief of the Phuket Provincial Industrial Office, the Chief of the Phuket City Planning Office, the chiefs of each district, the Commisioner of Phuket, and the Chief of the Provincial Forestry Office.