Bangkok, 22 October – The deputy director-general of the Royal Forest Department stated that officials from the Royal Forest Department will work with relevant sectors to inspect land use in national forest reserves again today. In addition to measuring the boundaries using GPS coordinates and matching them on a map, they will also conduct a survey with reference markers to make it clear whether or not it exceeds the permission requested from the Royal Forest Department.
Mr. Bannarak Sermthong, Deputy Director-General of the Royal Forest Department, said that this morning, officials from Forest Resource Management Office 2 (Chiang Rai) inspected the land boundary of the Rai Chern Tawan International Vipassana Center, founded by Phra Maha Vuthichai or Phra V. Vajiramedhi, by inviting community leaders and representatives of the Office of Buddhism to join the inspection to ensure transparency.
Yesterday, the boundary was surveyed by capturing GPS coordinates and then placed on the map. However, to clearly sta
te whether the land that was requested for permission to be used by the Vimuttayalai Foundation and the Office of Buddhism, totaling approximately 140 rai, has been used beyond the permitted areas, it will require surveying along the reference markers along the entire plot. If it is found that the land has been occupied beyond the permitted areas, further investigation will be required to determine the nature of the occupancy, such as encroachment or clearing, or if the land is still in its original state as forest, since the land that is in its forest state can be jointly utilized by the public.
The deputy director-general of the Royal Forest Department said that if there is any encroachment or clearing of the forest, it is an offense under the Forestry Act, which carries both imprisonment and fines. However, he insisted that an investigation must be carried out clearly and transparently, and it is expected that the survey of the markers along the entire plot will take no more than 2-3 days.
As for the con
cerns of the public about temples or monasteries being built in national forest reserves, it is in accordance with the Cabinet resolution to legalize illegal possession. There are many government offices located in national forest reserves, which must request permission to use the area from the Royal Forest Department. This will result in the Royal Forest Department having information on the nature of use, the exact area, and being able to control further encroachment on national forest reserves. -512 – Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agencyl