Three coastal projects denied building permits

PHUKET: The Provincial Natural Resources and Environment (PNRE) committee chaired by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima has denied building permits for three marine projects, citing Interior Ministry regulations prohibiting such construction in six tambons.

Declined were an application from Trisara resort developer Three Dolphins Co Ltd to build a wharf in Cherng Talay for boats under 20 tons displacement; an application for a floating pier at Surin Beach by Twinpalms Phuket hotel; and a request from Pla Seafood restaurant, also at Surin Beach, to install a floating dock to serve boats under 10 tons, along with buoys to mark off a safe swimming area.

In denying permits for the three projects, the committee cited Interior Ministry Regulation 20 issued in 1989, which forbids such construction in a designated zone that covers coastal regions in tambons Sakoo, Cherng Talay, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Rawai.

Starting 50 meters inland, the designated zone is 150 meters wide, extending another 100 meters offshore.

The committee also noted that the location of the proposed wharf by the Three Dolphins company fell inside the boundaries of Sirinath Marine National Park.

The committee gave its approval in principle for installation of intake and effluent pipes to a reverse-osmosis water-treatment plant that will serve The Yamu development in Pa Khlok, Thalang.

Although the PNRE committee has yet to receive the application to install the pipes, it was told that the application had already been approved by the Phuket Marine Office, the provincial office of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the local office of the Department of Industry.

The committee asked the developer to submit documents from those agencies before granting final permission.

Other projects considered by the committee were two floating plastic piers to berth boats not over 10 tons gross at Koh Sireh in Rassada and a floating pier at Ao Makham by the Bavana Co Ltd.

The committee said that environmental impact reports of the projects’ effects on coral would have to be studied before a decision is made.

The committee comprises representatives from 15 provincial offices, including the Phuket Provincial Marine Office, the Public Works and Planning Office, the Fishery Office, the Phuket office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and the Marine and Coastal Resources Office.