Governor’s last chance for Ao Phuket approval

PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura is to make a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Cabinet to approve the Ao Phuket development project before Parliament is dissolved for February’s general election.

The proposed development concerns more than 3,200 rai of land and a budget of more than 63 billion baht. It would include a convention center, hotels, apartments, shopping centers, entertainment facilities, an IT center, a hospital and a marina.

Gov Udomsak is to put the plans for the multi-billion-baht project before Cabinet when it meets in Chiang Rai on January 4, the day before Parliament is dissolved.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop declined to present the proposal to Cabinet when it met in Trang on December 14, sending it back to Gov Udomsak and saying that it did not go into enough detail about how the state agencies involved would work together on the scheme.

In response, the Governor today hosted a meeting in his office at which agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, drew up more specific information on their contributions.

Governor Udomsak said, “This is my last chance to present this mega-project for the consideration of the current government.

“If it is clear [the agencies concerned] share the same understanding, it will be easy to put this proposal before the cabinet for consideration.”

He continued, “I wanted the Cabinet to agree to the proposal because it will pave the way for progress, such as the appointment of a board to take the project further.

“Moreover, once the project is approved by the Cabinet, we can put the project out to tender with the private sector.”