Chon Buri: Local authorities on Monday filed complaints with police against a resort owner and a village head for alleged involvement in building a ramp that encroaches on a coastal area in Sattahip district.
Chon Buri provincial governor Thawatchai Srithong had assigned Chusak Nantithanyathada, acting district chief, to inspect the area after receiving a complaint about the alleged encroachment.
The ramp was being built behind what is now a closed-down resort in tambon Samae San in Moo 1. The inspection was carried out on Sept 4.
Mongkrot Aunruang, a senior forestry official, said around 7 rai of land was encroached upon by the ramp, as shown on a GPS map.
The ramp is one metre wide and 79 metres long and is connected to a concrete landing.
The authorities found backhoes working along the beach and trucks entering and leaving the ramp construction area. The officials ordered work to be stopped as inspections continued.
Officials discovered traces of dredging and piles of sand and rocks.
Checks revealed the area is part of a forest, which is off-limits to the general public.
No permission had been requested from the local authorities to build the ramp.
After the acting district chief toured the encroachment area, a local leader filed a police complaint against Naruedon Pisittakasem, owner of the now-closed resort, and Apichart Aramrat, a village head in tambon Samae San in Moo 3, who allegedly supervised the construction.
The four charges include colluding in construction that damages the forest without permission under Section 54 of the Forest Act, destroying forest and state land, and engaging in an unlawful act which harms natural resources under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act.