35% of Wang Nam Khieo reform land 'illegally occupied'

35% of Wang Nam Khieo reform land 'illegally occupied'

Small resort huts sit on encroached forest land in Wang Nam Khieo district in Nakhon Ratchasima.(Bangkok Post photo)
Small resort huts sit on encroached forest land in Wang Nam Khieo district in Nakhon Ratchasima.(Bangkok Post photo)

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — About 35% of the land in Wang Nam Khieo designated for agricultural purposes is illegally occupied, acoording to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro).

Wang Nam Khieo, which is made up of five tambons, covers a 706,243 rai and much of the area has been designated for land reform, Alro secretary-general Sansern Ajjutamamas said at a public hearing on Friday.

Farmers, resort operators and local leaders attended the hearing at the district land reform office.

Mr Sansern said Wang Nam Khieo had 62,079 people in16,956 households in the five tambons: Thai Samakkhi, Raroeng, Wang Nam Khieo, Wang Mee and Udomsap.

Alro had reviewed land occupation in the district and found that many problems with holders failing to abide by the land reform law, he said.

The biggest problem is encroachment by resorts in the scenic and hilly area, which has become hugely popular as a weekend getaway for Bangkok residents. Authorities have identified 112 illegally built resorts and filed suits against the operators of 10 of them so far.

The operators of two resorts — Rim Khuen and Rai Mitthae — have been ordered to vacate the 300 rai they occupy, said the Alro chief.

Alro has accelerated legal procedures after finding only 65% of land in the district designated for agicultural purposes and allocated to poor farmers has been legally occupied. The remaining 35% of the land has been unlawfully occupied by other buyers, he said.

In an attempt to solve the problems, Alro and Suranaree University of Technology have worked out a master plan for sustainable development in line with the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial development plan and the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan, he said.

The university and provincial authorities are planning to promote areas in the district as agro-tourism sites. "Parts of those areas may be developed as homestays for tourists,’’ said Mr Sansern.

He added that his office would look into legal issues regarding the use of reform land to promote agro-tourism. However, he admitted there had been many changes in land use in several land reform areas due to development pressure.

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