Cheewapap Cheewatham, head of the RFD’s Crime Suppression Division, Navy Cmdr Pornphrom Sakultem and Patong Mayor Chalermluk Kebsap visited the small waterfall off Nanai Rd after receiving complaints from local people.
Wicharn Sawatdirak, 82, former village leader, said that in the old days local people had derived benefits from the waterfall, using the water for washing and bathing. But today, he said, encroachment has narrowed the path to the falls to the point where it is almost impossible to negotiate.
Also, there used to be much more water coming over the falls than now, he said.
Mr Cheewapap noted that HM the King visited the waterfall in 1959, and held a photograph of that event that did indeed seem to show much more water coming over the falls then.
“We should help to get rid of encroachment and preserve this site for future generations,” he said.
However, before that can be done, checks must be made to establish whether the waterfall is in the Nakkerd Hills Forest, which is all state land.
Working with local authorities, the RFD will gather all information and check aerial photographs for evidence of encroachment on state land.
But Mr Cheewapap said that if there is firm evidence of encroachment, officials will take back the land and create a new tourist attraction for Patong.