Land for Phuket schools misused
PHUKET TOWN: Land encroachment made the top of Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi’s agenda again on Tuesday, this time involving plots designated for use by government schools in Thalang. The Governor met Prasit Suebchana, Head of the Phuket Treasury Office (PTO), and representatives from the Phuket Primary Education Office (PPEO) to determine an equitable solution to the problem. The eight schools were listed as Baan Koketanode, Baan Saku, Baan Nai Thon, Baan Prujumpa, Baan Kor-en, Baan Huakuan and Thalang Pranangsang. The land encroached on was originally granted to the PPEO by the National Primary Education Commission Office (NPECO) on the proviso that the schools return the land to the NPECO within 30 days if they were unable to make use of it. The encroachment issue arose when the 30-day deadline passed but the schools failed to make use of the land – but others did. “The PPEO has promised to cooperate with the NPECO in returning the land to the PTO, which can then make it available to other government organizations or rent it to those currently occupying it,” K. Prasit said after the meeting. He explained that there are many plots of government lands designated for use by local government organizations, citing the example of a 2,800-rai plot in Tah Chat Chai that was encroached upon by more than 500 settlers. The PTO divided the land into plots of 200 square meters and offered the occupiers non-transferable leases. Rakchart Taepongsorat, head of Thalang Pranangsang School’s building section, yesterday told the Gazette, “About 10 years ago, the school was prepared to return the unused land to the Phuket Treasury Office (PTO), but by that time it was already encroached upon. So the PTO refused to take it back until the school had settled the encroachment problems.” K. Rakchart said that the school had never been able to evict the encroachers, adding that it was only recently that the PTO had again raised the issue with the school. “I have talked to the 21 encroachers on the main plot. Some are delighted at the prospect of being able to rent the land from the PTO. If the school gives the land back to the PTO, it won’t have any affect on the school – but it could have an impact on the people who are living on the grounds,” K. Rakchart added.
