Senior Department of
Marine and Coastal Resources officials state that erosion of local
beaches has accelerated, as shown here at the Dusit curve in North
Pattaya. More studies are being done, when many feel it is time for
action instead of words. (Story on page 3)
Phasakorn Channgam
Shocked by erosion rates that have doubled over the past few years,
Chonburi Department of Marine and Coastal Resources officials, working
under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, are drafting
new plans to protect the province’s coastline.
DMCR
Senior Director Suthilak Rawiwan.
At a Nov. 5 hearing at the Sun Beach Hotel in Najomtien, DMCR Senior
Director Suthilak Rawiwan said 24 of Chonburi’s 171 kilometers of
coastline have suffered erosion, with normal rates of 800 meters per
year. However, since 2006, erosion has accelerated to 1.6 kilometers per
year.
“Therefore, Chonburi has decided to rush to solve the problem by opting
for integrated management of the coast by having an agreement signed by
the relevant private and public agencies to draft a strategy to solve
the issue together,” Suthilak said.
Pattaya representative Anuwat Laothongkhum said the city has seen severe
erosion of its main tourist attraction, noting beaches that previously
were 35 meters wide have shrunk to just 7.8 meters (at high tide). Left
unabated, erosion will wipe out the Pattaya’s beaches within five years,
he said.
Anuwat explained the city has joined with the provincial Marine
Department to hire consultants from Chulalongkorn University to draft a
beach-restoration plan. Work on that plan, however, ground to a halt
when Rayong Province barred Pattaya’s contractor from taking any more
replacement sand from a river there.
