Homestays encroaching into Songkhla Lake to be dismantled

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) – Local Marine Department Office has pressed ahead with demolition of homestays, encroaching on Songkhla Lake. Officials is going ahead to execute a court order in 2011 to evict 20 homestays from the Songkhla lake area after they were found encroaching on the lake, said Thapakorn Boonkerd, director of the regional marine department office, Songkhla branch. The authorities have carried out legal procedures to evict another 50 homestays for the same charges. Negotiations have been made between the authorities and homestay owners and the working committee will decide when to demolish those homestays. After the demolition, homestay owners may be converted into rafts or any form of accommodation that will be permitted by the authorities. The homestay buildings have been standing there for several years and the number is increasing, leading to an impact on the ecology at the lake. The officials will also take a similar legal action against restaurants, intruding into the lake. (TNA)