Private company blocking beach access road ordered to meet with officials

PHUKET: Officials have called on Laem Nga Development Co Ltd to meet with representatives from the Marine Office and local authorities after receiving complaints that they were blocking an access road to Laem Nga Beach in Rassada.

The complaint, submitted to the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office), saw members of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and Damrongdhama Center inspect the area in question.

“When we arrived, we saw that the road, which is the responsibility of the Rassada municipality, had been blocked off with a barrier and barbed wire,” said Damrongdhama Center Chief Prapan Kanprasang. “There was also a sign that read ‘Private Land – Do not enter – Danger’.”

The blocked section of the access road, built by the Department of Rural Roads approximately 15 years ago, has about 600 meters sectioned off, which seems to overlap with the company’s land, confirmed Lt Somphop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command.

“Therefore, to resolve this situation, letters were sent out to invite all relevant parties to join a meeting on March 29,” Lt Somphop said. “We have requested that participants bring all relevant documents for transparency purposes.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong