Phuket Beach Encroachments Demolished in Major Operation

An operation to dismantle buildings encroaching on public land at Hat Nui beach in Phuket's Karon sub-district began on Monday, with approximately 400 local officials involved in the large-scale effort. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin emphasized that resolving encroachment issues, which have plagued the island for decades, is a government priority. He stated that local residents were aware of the government's intention to return encroached forest and marine park areas to the public and had challenged him to implement the policy on the beach. "Fishermen who approached the beach were fired at or assaulted. This is not private property. It is public land. We cannot tolerate it," Mr Suchart said, highlighting that many beaches in Phuket have been illegally occupied by influential individuals. While 50 buildings have been demolished, officials plan to guard the area to prevent re-encroachment. The operation is expected to expand to other encroached beaches across Phuket, though legal disputes may cause delays. Approximately 300 public locations are slated for clearing of encroachers. The Hat Nui beach area covers about 18 rai (approximately 2.8 hectares) with an estimated market value of nearly 2 billion baht. Following the removal of offending structures, the government plans to develop the beach as part of a larger recreational forest area spanning a total of 540 rai (approximately 86 hectares).