West Sands to be investigated over encroachment

MAI KHAO: Thalang District Chief Samart Waradisai and Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization President Sarawut Srikookam will spearhead an investigation into whether the West Sands development being built near Phuket International Airport is encroaching on government land.

The investigation follows allegations by villagers from Mai Khao Village 4, led by Boonlit Sae-aew, who filed a complaint to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit on Monday.

The complaint asked for the province to ensure that the project developers had the correct land titles and construction permits before allowing work on the project to proceed.

The villagers claimed that the project encroaches on Thung Tien and Yairat swamps, which they claim are both on public land.

K. Boonlit met Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha on Wednesday to discuss the issue. “Although we have been living here for a long time, we have never received land titles,” K. Boonlit told reporters after the meeting.

However, Joe Mercer, General Manager of the West Sands project, told the Gazette that all the project’s land title deeds and permits were in order and that all work was proceeding in accordance with the law, as confirmed in a recent meeting with local officials.

Work on the project, to consist of 350 residences on about 40 rai of beachfront land, is now in the piling stage.

V/Gov Tri told the Gazette that Thalang District Chief Samart and K. Sarawut had until March 23 to report their findings to the Damrongtham Center, which functions as the provincial ombudsman’s office.

“We plan to inspect the project area on March 19. One week after we have the investigation results we will meet again to reach a conclusion.

“The entire matter will be finalized by the end of March. If any of the construction is found to encroach on public property, we will order them to stop work,” V/Gov Tri said.