Steps will be taken urgently to revoke agricultural land-reform documents for plots covering more than 10,000 rai of forestland in Krabi found to have been illegally issued to and occupied by private individuals and encroachers to grow oil palms, said governor Songpol Sawasditham.
According to Thairath Online, The Krabi governor said those plots of land are in tambon Krabi Noi of Muang district, tambon Huay Yung of Nue Khlong district, and tambon Phru Tieo of Khao Phanom district.
A palm oil concession of from Univanich Co in Krabi’s Phraya district. Steps will be taken urgently to revoke agricultural land-reform documents for plots covering more than 10,000 rai of forestland in Krabi found to have been illegally issued to and occupied by private individuals and encroachers to grow oil palms.(Bangkok Post photo)
Mr Songpol said he had instructed officials, particularly those from agricultural land-reform offices, to seek help from military units in the areas by Jan 15 to push out the villagers and private firms still occupying the land.
After Jan 15, he would call a meeting of all officials concerned to revoke the illegally-issued Sor Por Kor 4-01 land certificates and other land right documents. After that the land would be properly allocated to landless people for agriculture.
In a separate case, villagers in tambon Tap Prik of Krabi's Muang district reportedly expressed concerns to government authorities over a private company grading a 280-rai land tract near their community to build an oil palm-extraction plant. They were afraid the plant might discharge untreated water into Khlong Tap Prik canal, from which tap water for the Krabi municipality is produced.
The villagers planned to file a grievance with the province's complaint centre. The private firm had reportedly obtained a proper permit from the provincial industry office.