Phuket officials will tackle pollution for tourism and ecosystems.

Phuket officials will tackle pollution for tourism and ecosystems.

 In an effort to conserve the local ecology and sustain Phuket's tourism attractiveness, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and ecology (MNRE) Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan urged local authorities to take strong action against pollution. The concern comes when fishing net trash and monsoon debris accumulate in Phuket and surrounding maritime areas, posing a huge threat to the tourism sector and marine biodiversity.

During his recent visit to Phuket, Patcharawat emphasised the need for the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) to develop and enforce effective strategies to address these environmental hazards.

While inaugurating the new Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Patcharawat listened to the grievances of locals.

The issues raised ranged from wastewater treatment to land allocation for housing within mangrove forest areas.

In response to these concerns, Patcharawat assured swift action on the urban forest project titled “Mangrove Forest Ban Ao Kung, Tha Le, Lang Daeng, Phuket” by June. Community participation in environmental conservation efforts was heavily stressed.

On the issue of wastewater treatment, he underscored the necessity for a collaborative approach between the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) and local authorities to enforce effective management plans.