Thaindian News

The parliamentary committee on natural resources and environment inspects the erosion of the Gulf of Thailand coast in Samut Prakan province to find measures to tackle the problem.

The committee chaired by Prof.Phicharnwira Mawichak (ภิชานวิระ มาวิจักษณ์) went to Wat Khunsamuthrawat (วัดขุนสมุทราวาส) or Wat Khun Samutchin (วัดขุนสมุทรจีน) in Phrasamutchedi (พระสมุทรเจดีย์) district in Samut Prakan province to examine erosion reportedly taking place at the coastal area of Ban Khun Samutchine. The chairman also listened to problems of local people concerning coastal erosion.

Samut Prakan is one of the provinces seriously affected by the coastal erosion. According to a study by the Faculty of Science of Chulalongkorn University, an area of more than 11,000 rai have been eroded during the last 40 years and more than 30,000 rai are expected to disappear should the problem be left unresolved.

Ban Khun Samutchine’s coast has disappeared by an average of 20 - 40 meters a year and its land is subsided by an average of 3 – 5 meters a year. The province has therefore initiated a project to improve the environment of Ban Khun Samutchine to resolve the problems of coastal erosion and land subsidence. The project has shown some success so far.