ไทย
Phuket – May 8, 2024, Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, traveled to Phuket to preside over the opening ceremony of Phuket Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment (PDNRE). Afterwards, he met with the public who attended the event to listen to local issues, including wastewater treatment, garbage problem solutions, and to receive petitions requesting solutions to problems and expedited allocation of land for residential purposes in forested areas, as well as to support and expedite the forest project in the urban area ‘Ban Ao Gung Bay, Tha Le, Lang Dang, Phuket’. Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat pledged to expedite the project within June.
Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat mentioned about the wastewater treatment issue, stating that PDNRE has collaborated with Phuket Governor and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President, with local agencies already having management plans in place. Meanwhile, a concerning issue is the garbage problem, particularly the overflow from fishing and marine debris, which recurs annually during the monsoon season. Therefore, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has been tasked with preparing proactive measures to mitigate the environmental impact and minimize its effect on tourism, especially in key beach areas in Phuket.
Afterward, Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat proceeded to the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center in the Andaman Sea region to listen to a presentation on the case of coral reef bleaching issue from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat outlined a policy directive for the department to closely monitor the situation of coral reef bleaching to protect and preserve the vital ecosystems of the Thai sea. He also expressed encouragement to all staff members dedicated to their work.
In addition, before Pol. Lt. Col. Pacharawat departed, he met with representatives of the local community led by Mr. Sompol Boonsri, who presented a petition requesting resolution to the issue of coastal erosion along Haad Sai Kaew beach, Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang. They also requested to provide information as guidance and a model for addressing the problem, urging relevant government agencies to consider sustainable solutions, such as installing wave-damping stakes, to minimize the overall environmental impact.
News and photos: Phuket Provincial Public Relation Office