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Surat Thani Governor Orders Probe into Samui Airport Public Land Encroachment
6th Feb 2017
Governor of Surat Thani Mr. Uaychai Innak has ordered an investigation into claims Koh Samui Airport is encroaching into public land. The area in question is located at the end of the runway strip, covers about 16 rai and was rented by Bangkok Airways from the Treasury Department.
The problem, as one panel found, is that the land is actually a part of a swamp forest and serves as a water retention pond. This means it cannot be registered state property land, but only as public land.
According to Mr. Uaychai, the panel found that the encroached area has a canal running through it, which means it could be a water retention pond.
The land is not located some 100 meters away from the end of the runway strip.
The panel now has a task to find if Bangkok Airways legally acquired the land. To do this, it will need to talk to the locals and gather what information it can from them.
Bangkok Airways has been renting the plot from the Treasury Department since 1999. It stated it is up to Thai state agencies to determine whether the plot is state property land or public land. However, the airline also said it is willing to provide any information if requested.
It remains to be seen what steps the Asia’s Boutique Airline will take if its rental contract with the Treasury Department is revoked.
The land plot itself is marked as an air safety zone, according to the Aviation Act requirements. Planting trees, contracting buildings and other structures and such is strictly controlled in order to allow unobstructed air navigation.
The panel recommended the Treasury Department cancel the rental contract with the Bangkok Airways no later than 30 days from now.
Deputy Chief of Treasury Department Amornrat Klumplob said they are ready to restore the land plot in question, but that they will need to discuss matters with Bangkok Airways about canceling the rental contract. If they are to do this, he explained, the department will need to carefully study the contract in order to avoid any legal problems.
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