The clarification followed a site inspection last Friday (Jan 30) after reports circulated online alleging unauthorised excavation on Kamala Hill in Moo 6. The inspection was ordered by Kathu District Chief Akkarapol Sutthirak Jitsupap and carried out by deputy district chiefs Sikharin Anilbol and Anurak Poolsak.
Officials confirmed the land is privately owned under NorSor 4 Jor land title deed No. 11588, issued on June 27, 2008, covering 32 rai 2 ngan 91.6 square wah.
Deputy District Chief Sikharin said the area is being prepared for residential construction, but declined to disclose the project or company involved.
He explained that OrBorTor Kamala issued a notification permitting soil excavation and land filling under the Land Excavation and Filling Act B.E. 2543, allowing work to “an average depth of two metres” across 51,425 square metres.
However, photos of officials at the site last Friday posted online by the Kathu District Office showed excavation in areas of up to about four metres at the site. The report by the Kathu District Office made no mention of the deeper excavation conducted.
OrBorTor Kamala also issued a construction permit (Form A.1) on Jan 29 for eight single-storey reinforced concrete houses and a 400-metre retaining wall, the Kathu District Office reported.
However, while Kathu officials noted that while the excavation activities are supported by these documents, they also pointed out that the legality of the issuance of the land title deed itself has been raised with provincial authorities due to public and media interest.
The legality of the NorSor 4 was previously referenced in correspondence from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office dated Aug 22 last year and discussed at a Provincial Forestry Committee meeting, which instructed the Provincial Damrongtham Centre to request relevant agencies to examine the land title documents, Kathu District Office explained in its report.
As a result, deputy district chiefs, village officials, OrBorTor Kamala and other agencies were assigned to collect preliminary facts on the ground. The district office also formally referred the matter to the Phuket Provincial Land Office for further examination, Kathu District Office noted.
However, the Phuket Provincial Land Office has not released any clarification or findings regarding the issuance of the land title.
Separately, excavation at the same site was temporarily suspended last year and the landowner “was notified to submit a proper application for permission” under threat of one year in jail or a fine of up to B50,000 after an inspection by officials following other complaints posted on social media. The work suspension and inspection resulted in the unnamed landowner being charged.