Phuket

Princess to attend prayers at Big Buddha site

Published

13 years ago

January 27, 2006

Princess to attend prayers at Big Buddha site | The Thaiger

PHUKET: HRH Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya will attend a prayer ceremony at the Mingmongkol Buddha project site, in the Nakkerd Hills between Karon and Chalong, at 5 pm on February 11.

Suporn Vanichkul, President of the Mingmongkol Faith 45 project committee that is raising funds for the project, told the Gazette that work on the group’s mammoth Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha image is still two years from completion.

When finished, the 30-million-baht reinforced-concrete colossus will be 45 meters high and 25 meters across at the base. Apart from its philosophical significance, it is expected to become an icon for Phuket and a major tourist attraction, bringing thousands of people a day to a 49-rai area that was, until a few years ago, virgin forest.

Already under construction, the gold-painted image will be in the Maravichai style and will face eastward, overlooking the sea. Workers are now constructing the concrete base that will support the statue and which will be adorned with 40 images of lotus petals.

The focal point of devotion during the Princess’s visit will be a smaller, 12-meter-high Buddha image, also in the Maravichai style, which has already been completed. It was cast from 22 tons of brass at a cost of 8.8 million baht.

The Mingmongkol Faith 45 project committee is funding the entire project through a campaign to solicit donations using the slogan “Enhance your merit value in your mind”.

The group set up collection boxes at shopping malls on the island and now has its own website in both Thai and English to help raise more funds (see here).

K. Suporn told the Gazette that trees have been planted around the site to prevent erosion, and that the project is within the terms agreed upon with the Forestry Department when it was given the go-ahead to continue last year.

Work was ordered stopped in 2003 after construction was deemed to have exceeded the original scope, and for also violating the ban on the construction of permanent structures higher than 80 meters above sea level. (See earlier story here)

Phuket

Fourteen kilograms of marijuana seized in pre-Songkran drug crackdowns

Published

12 hours ago

March 26, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Fourteen kilograms of marijuana seized in pre-Songkran drug crackdowns | The Thaiger

Phuket police have sized a total of 14 kilograms of marijuana in three separate cases, including intercepting parcel post yesterday. It’s all part of the annual pre-Songkran drugs crackdown.

Phuket Provincial Police have seized a parcel box sent via Thai Post in Rawai where they found 12 kilograms of marijuana. Police are now tracking down the sender.

In the second case police have arrested 46 years old Kamon ‘Noom’ Teeratrakunchai in Wichit. Police seized one kilogram of marijuana inside a Kerry Express parcel box. The suspect has been charged with illegal possession of a Category 5 Drug.

And in the third case Patong police arrested a suspect near a market on Bangla Road in Patong. Police seized one kilogram of marijuana during that arrest. That suspect has also been charged with illegal possession of a Category 5 Drug.

Phuket

Emergency crews participate in fire drill at Phuket airport

Published

12 hours ago

March 26, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: The Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport emergency crews battled fake fires near the main runway today.

Firefighters and rescue workers were deployed on the tarmac as part of regular drills aimed at improving response times and emergency response efficiency. This was the first such drill at the airport this year.

Observing officials reported that the emergency crews were timely and effective in their response during the exercise. The drills follow a standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and are carried out periodically to check on preparedness for various emergencies.

No flights were reportedly affected by the drill.

Phuket

Power outage in parts of Chalong tomorrow

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: PEA

Residents of Chalong should be aware that there is a scheduled power outage from 9am to 4.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) as the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) continues its work on high power voltage systems in the area.

The blackouts will affect the areas from the Shell petrol station on Patak Road to Bayshore law office opposite Chalong Beach Hotel on Wiset Road.

As always, the PEA apologises for the inconvenience.

For more information contact the Operations and Maintenance Department of the Provincial Electricity Authority on 07 652 1099 (24 hr)