At 9am, Pa Khlock and Baan Para residents led by village headmen gathered in front of Provincial Hall to meet with Gov Nisit for an update on a plan to install high-voltage electricity lines in their neighbourhood.
Residents have a number of concerns relating to the 500KV power supply and said they would continue to stand against the planned install.
They also wanted to press Gov Nisit to convince the Phuket Electric Authority (PEA) to reconsider the idea of installing the 500KV pylons.
However, upon arrival at Provincial Hall, the residents learned that Gov Nisit was in Patong for the tsunami evacuation drills. So instead they were met by Vice Governor, Somkiet Songkhowsuttirak, V/Gov Suthee Tongyam; Taweesak Srirachaya, assistant manager of the electricity system project and Damrongtham Centre chief, Prapan Khanphrasang who were happy to listen to the resident̕s concerns.
But the residents were insistant on meeting with Gov Nisit.
Many residents were holding placards asking for justice, others read “Pa Khklok and Para residents against the high voltage electricity” and “Put the high voltage power lines in the ground and build roads”.
More than 20 police, territorial defence volunteers and navy officers were called to Provincial Hall to keep peace and order during the protest.
Former Baan Para village headman, Samran Pandin, said that installing the 500KV power lines in a residential area has sparked many safety concerns among Pa Khlok and Para residents.
“The residents have no objection over the installation of new electricity power lines into Phuket Town, but installing the pylons in the area of Pa Khlok will limit residents safe access to land,” he said.
The pylons will be at least 60 metres high and this, residents believe, will cause land prices to drop.
Residents also believe that the pylons will send out cancer causing radiation and that it is possible some locals could even be electrocuted.
Gov Nisit eventually arrived at Provincial Hall at 11:40 to meet with the residents and said that their concerns are understood and that he will try to find a solution at his next meeting with the PEA in two weeks time.
Assistant manager of the electricity system project, Taweesak Srirachaya, said that Phuket consumes a lot of electricity and is constantly suffering power outages.
It is the PEA̕s responsibility to plan to install new electricity power lines and that new high-voltage lines will be installled in many areas in the future.
However, he did point out that all that the PEA has done so far is survey areas where it is possible to put pylons.