The rubble has not been dumped illegally, it has actually been dumped with permission from Patong Municipality, Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kepsub told The Phuket News this week.
“We know who dumped it there, and they are allowed to leave it there for a while, but it will be removed,” she said.
At first reluctant to admit who had been given special permission to dump rubble along the public beachfront, Mayor Chalermluck admitted that the rubble was from the demolition of a nearby mosque.
“The building was old and had to be knocked down, and they are building a new one,” she said.
“We have been promised that the rubble will be removed within a month,” she added.
The rubble was initially dumped on the area beside the beach, known locally as called Suan Nok (bird field), but has now spilled onto the sand to be battered by strong waves brought on by the southwest monsoon.
Mayor Chalermluck noted that dumping rubble or any other form of refuse on public land was usually deemed illegal.
“Generally people can’t dump any trash or anything else on public areas. If they do that, they will be charged for doing so,” Mayor Chalermluck said.
Regarding the dangerous steel rods protruding through the sand, Mayor Chalermluck told The Phuket News today (May 10), “I will arrange to have signs posted to warn people about it.”