Officials investigate Kamala Beach encroachment allegations

PHUKET: Officials are looking into allegations that vendors at Kamala Beach are encroaching beyond the ’10-percent zone’, which was established to restrict commercial activities to a small portion of the popular Phuket beach.

An anonymous tip-off from a Phuket expat alleged that beach chairs, umbrellas, food stalls and tents have spread beyond the demarcation poles of the 10-percent zone. Photographic evidence supporting the allegation was provided to officials.

“There are tables and chairs, hundreds of beach mattresses with umbrellas and garbage piling up for several days now. The tents are becoming permanent fixtures and hundreds of chairs are piled up over night,” said the expat in an email to the Phuket Gazette.

Kamala Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Karun Sriden said that he appreciated the tip-off and would send officers to look into the encroachment claim. However, he insisted that inspections were already being made on a regular basis.

“Trash is collected from the area every night, but I will take a look myself in the mornings to make sure,” said Mr Karun. “As for the umbrellas, I believe most of them outside of the zone are probably tourists’ and not supplied by vendors.”

However, Mr Karun did explain that the tents there were meant to be permanent fixtures within the 10-percent zone.

— Kongleaphy Keam