Environmental problems are threatening to leave the once pristine island of Samet in a horrendous mess.
Rayong Governor Sayumporn Limthai said yesterday that not only do the piles of garbage smell bad, it was also contaminating groundwater sources.
He was speaking to the press after inspecting Samet alongside Jatuporn Burutpat, who heads the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, over the weekend.
"Even from a helicopter, this pile of garbage is an eyesore," Jatuporn said.
Though Samet is part of Rayong, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jatuporn's department because it is located inside a national park.
Jatuporn is currently reviewing some plans submitted by Rayong authorities, including one about the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organisation's plan to relocate the garbage outside the island.
"The plan should be implemented within one year from now," Jatuporn said. "We need to urgently solve Samet's environmental problems."
He said the main reason for the environmental damage was that there were more visitors to Samet than it could handle.
"We should plan to limit the number of tourists," he said, adding that a study on the matter was being conducted and should be ready by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Sayumporn said the many unregulated buildings going up to serve the rising number of tourists further damaged Samet's environment.
"We have to ensure that new facilities do not hurt the environment. Samet's selling point should be its natural beauty," the governor said.
Relevant authorities are planning to launch various projects to revamp Samet and some facilities will be allowed, provided they are well regulated. For instance, one of the projects is to improve the 14-kilometre road around the island, which should cost less than Bt61 million and be completed within a year.
In addition, relevant authorities will improve the piers on the island to ensure everyone's safety.
"We will not drive out the more than 100 operators that rent out deck chairs, but we will make them stay near the beach, not right on it," Sayumporn said.
