The investigation comes after allegations that runoff from the clearing of trees at the top of the hill contributed to, or even caused, the landslide that killed 13 people in Kata last Friday (Aug 23).
Among those joining the investigation and site inspection at the Big Buddha complex today were Wathanapong Suksai, Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and Sorasak Rananan, Director of the Phuket Provincial Forestry Center, along with other Phuket MNRE and forestry officials.
Also joining the inspection were officials from the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) along with local government officials and officers from the Karon Police.
Mr Wathanapong explained that in 2002 the Royal Forest Department granted the foundation that operates the Big Buddha complex ‒ which goes by the name ‘Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Foundation, Faith 45’ ‒ permission to occupy 15 amid protected forest at the top of the hill.
However, the other buildings and common areas at the complex now allegedly cover some 40 rai. Officers are now investigating whether the foundation had permission to expand its operations to that extent, Mr Wathanapong said.
Officers today began their investigation by marking out the plot assigned by using GPS devices.
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee today also noted that it remained unclear whether the foundation had been granted permission to add any buildings at the site, which he said sits some 300 metres above sea level.
By law, special permission must be granted for any structures to be built above 80m above sea level, he explained.
Such structures do exist, he noted such as the radar station which is also located high in the hills for national security reasons.
Mr Chalermping noted today that one of the buildings and the parking lot were built over a natural waterway, which may have diverted the natural runoff and posed a risk of another landslide.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub