Construction around Phuket Big Buddha halted

The Phuket provincial chief monk has ordered the abbot of Wat Kitti Sangkharam (the Phuket Big Buddha Temple) to suspend all construction on Khao Nark Kerd mountain, pending an investigation into whether the temple has encroached on national forest reserves.

Forest Department officials suspect that the mudslide that killed 13 people in Karon sub-district on August 13th was caused by illegal clearing of forest on the slopes of the mountain, which is part of the national forest reserves.

In the letter, addressed to the abbot of Wat Kitti Sangkharam, the province’s chief monk Phra Udom Wachiramongkol referred to the mudslide, which had killed several people and damaged numerous houses in Karon sub-district.

It also said that the National Office of Buddhism had sought permission from the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office to use a plot of land in the national forest reserves, on which to build the Phuket Big Buddha and temple.

The Forest Department allege, however, that the temple is encroaching on about 0.8 hectares on Khao Nark Kerd mountain and had built a car park and other facilities.