Phuket

Traffic finally flows through Samkong Underpass

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2016

Traffic finally flows through Samkong Underpass | The Thaiger

PHUKET: The northbound lane of the long-awaited Samkong Underpass was finally opened for traffic yesterday, after being marred with a deluge of problems.

“The lane opened up at about 4pm,” said Chalermpol Wongkiattikun, the project engineer from the Department of Highways. “So far, traffic has been moving through it very smoothly.”

Construction on the project is now expected to end by July 31.

“Drivers should be cautious while driving through the construction area, as there is still heavy machinery on site,” he said. He suggested using an alternative route if possible.

Two weeks ago, Boon Tapanadul from the Bangkok Ombudsman’s Office, was told that the project, which is worth more than 800 million baht, would be fully operational by May (story here). However, due to endless delays, the Phuket Gazette learned today that the project will not be finished until the end of July. It is more than a year behind schedule.

After three contractually acceptable push-backs of the completion date, Wiwat Construction Co Ltd was allowed a December 21, 2015 completion date, before a daily fine of two million baht was to be charged. However, due to mandatory closure during the New Year holidays, a 30-day grace period was granted, further pushing the date to January 22 (story here).

The project has been marred with mishaps, as rough road surfaces caused numerous accidents, forcing local residents to fix dangerous sections of the road themselves after officials and the construction company failed to act (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin

Environment

Mariam the young Krabi dugong dies

Published

13 hours ago

August 17, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: กรมทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่ง

The Phuket Marine Biological Centre has announced the sad news about the special young dugong ‘Mariam’, who was found in Krabi back on April 26.

Young Mariam died earlier today.

The centre posted on its official Facebook page that the vet team found that she’d stopped breathing and her pulse had stopped as well, so they brought her out of the water to try and stimulate breathing.

Initially, they found that she was still responding from her eyes so they return her back to the pond. After checking the pulse, they found that it stopped again so they used some veterinary medications to keep her alive and pulled her out of the water for a second time.

She was pronounced dead at midnight today.

In a post mortem the vets found that Mariam had consumed a quantity of plastic that may have been previously undetectable.

“Rest in peace Mariam, our little angel,” says the PMBC post.

Read some more about Mariam HERE.

Phuket

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket

Published

2 days ago

August 16, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Sira Jenjaka MP, says he has received death threats

A government MP for Bangkok says he has received death threats for revealing a Phuket condo project that allegedly sits on land without the proper documentation. The project, at this stage, remains un-named.

Sira Jenjaka is an MP with the ruling Palang Pracharat Party and claims that two people had already died as a result of revealing the problems with the project.

He alleges the land documents had been revoked by the Administrative court in the past and says he will petition the Justice Ministry to have the project probed by the DSI (Department of Special Investigation).

Mr Sira says the un-named condo project, located in Tambon Karon (below), occupies land where the Nor Sor 3 Kor land ownership papers were revoked by the Administrative Court. He has alleged that the project is owned by a “retired high-ranking policeman”.

“If government officials were found to be involved in the alleged malpractice, the state could be sued for damages worth billions of baht”, according to a quote in the Bangkok Post.

He said that the potential buyers of the condominium apartments are mostly foreigners.

Mr Sirat said he planned to ask the Phuket governor to suspend the local mayor for alleged negligence in connection with the condominium project. He will also speak to the Phuket governor suspend construction of the project and cancel any contractor’s licences.

The MP says that some state officials may have their authority and been complicit in the approval of the Nor Sor 3 Kor document.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket | News by The Thaiger

PHOTO: Manager Online

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket | News by The Thaiger

Environment

Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket

Published

3 days ago

August 15, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Aroon Solos

Today (August 15) at about 1pm, the lifeguard team at Nai Harn Beach rescued a small turtle, which had become stuck in a fertiliser sack.

They found the turtle washed up ashore with the sack wrapped up around its neck. They tried to carefully remove the sack from the turtle’s neck but found that the turtle had been injured around the neck so they contacted the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to take the turtle back to the centre for further examination and treatment.

Well done to the lifesavers at Nai Harn.

VIDEO: Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos