KANCHANABURI: The 15-million baht Phatsapada Resort, which encroaches on Khao Laem National Park, is being demolished.

The demolition began on Thursday.

Niphon Chamnonsirisak, director of the Protected Areas Regional 3, on Thursday led a team of Khao Laem National Park officials to Phatsapada Resort.

Park officials had earlier told the family who run Phatsapada Resort to remove the 17 huts, which encroach on more than 2 rai of national park land, within seven days, or they would be demolished by the state and the owners made to pay the estimated 200,000 baht cost.


Mr Niphon said Natural Resources and Environment Minister had instructed national park officials to get tough with forest encroachers and recover the land for forest restoration.

The Phatsapada Resort encroachment case drew the attention of the ministry, and the public.

An in-depth investigation by park officials found that a woman with the retired military rank of major general was involved in the illegal encroachment, Mr Niphon said.  

He was informed that the woman who claimed to be the owner, Jarupha Detchinda, was the major general's proxy, but the park was unable to investigate because the matter was beyond its power.

Police were also unable to bring Jarupha to task as she had since died, he said.

Her heirs recently notified park officials that the family agreed to dismantle all 17 huts in the resort compound, which were worth about 15 million baht, Mr Niphon said.

The work was expected to take three days.