CityNews – The investigation by the Special Operation Unit at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park continues on August 30th at T. Pong Yang, A. Mae Rim where about 7,000 rai of land has been encroached upon by strawberry farms, coffee shop and home stay, illegally operating in the area.
A 7 rai strawberry farm opened as a tourist destination with a homestay and coffee shop and is operated by Pathum Maisuk. According to the report, the land was originally claimed by a local man name Sornchai Punya who sold the land to an unnamed Bangkok investor and then later sold the land to Pathum three years ago. Without the document permissions, Pathum is charged for encroaching national park area and detained.
The satellite of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation revealed that about 7,000 rai are now denuded of forestation indicating that they have been encroached upon. The area was under the examination of the cabinet on June 30th, since then the officers have managed to retrieve 800 rai and the goal is to reclaim the whole area within 5 years.