Phuket investors urged to verify land plots near national park

PHUKET: The chief of Phuket’s Sirinath National Park, Kitiphat Taraphiban, is urging prospective investors and private landowners to verify whether or not plots they have bought – or are thinking of buying – are deemed to be within the park.

The checks can be made at the park’s land verification center, which was established at the order of Nipon Chotibal, the Acting Director-General Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), in Phuket on July 8 (story here).

“The center is meant to help investors be assured that the property they are buying is not encroaching on national park land,” Chief Kitiphat explained.

“It’s a service that only verifies whether or not plots are in the park. We will not interfere in the sale and purchase of properties.”

The center, located at the Sirinath National Park head office at Nai Yang, is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

However, so far only six people have visited the center to confirm whether or not specific plots were within the park.

Currently at least 379 plots are under investigation for allegedly being in or encroaching on parkland along the border of the park (story here).

“We do not have a detailed map showing the park’s boundaries map available online, but we do have one at the center,” Chief Kitiphat said.

“Please come and inspect it yourself. Any verbal advice from our officers is free.”

Park officials will issue written statements confirming whether or not any plots queried are deemed to be within the park.

“To obtain a written statement, people must apply in writing and we will have officers investigate thoroughly and confirm whether or not the plot in question is in the park,” Chief Kitiphat said.

“I urge anyone involved in land near the park border to have the land checked properly. Failure to do so may end up in legal action and forfeiting the land back to the government.”

— Chutharat Plerin