Governor Orders 90-Day Survey for Stone Mill Canal Encroachment Case

On October 28, 2026, former MP Thangthim Saphan Mai, accompanied by Ms. Khemjira Banduranipit, the authorized representative and owner of 94 rai of land in Bo Rai district, Trat province, met with Governor Chatraphon Niyom to submit a letter requesting justice and an update on the case of a stone mill encroaching on a public waterway. This followed heavy public criticism and demands regarding the encroachment of the public canal "Khlong Chanak" in Bo Rai district, Trat province, after it was found that the canal had been dredged and its flow diverted for a distance of over 1,200 meters, approximately 20 meters wide, without restoration to its original condition, raising concerns about ecological impact.

The matter originated when Mr. Apiphat Laphudom, a landowner, filed a complaint with the Bo Rai Police Station, Trat province, against a private company operating a stone mill and its executives in Trat province, charging them with "encroachment, construction obstructing an irrigation waterway without permission, and blocking an irrigation waterway." The offense occurred on a land title deed in Bo Phloi subdistrict, Bo Rai district, Trat province, in February 2025.

Later, on May 11, 2026, Mr. Peeraphat Chatkhong, a transport technical officer authorized by the Director of the Marine Department, filed an additional complaint with the Bo Rai Police Station under Section 119 (amended by the Thai Vessel Navigation Act No. 14, B.E. 2535), which prohibits anyone from pouring, dumping, or causing soil, rock, sand, or detrimental materials into a river or canal used for public navigation or common use, and Section 120, paragraph two (Thai Vessel Navigation Act B.E. 2456), which prohibits anyone from dredging, altering, or performing any act that changes the channel of a navigation route, river, or canal without permission from the Marine Department.

Subsequently, local residents and Ms. Khemjira, the authorized representative and case follower, questioned the delay in dredging the canal back to its original position. They noted that the diversion of the public waterway changed the original flow of Khlong Chanak, which used to join Khlong Lue, but was excavated to divert flow into Khlong Tabat instead, an act violating the law.

A letter was also submitted to Pol. Maj. Gen. Prathana Phanpha, Commander of Trat Provincial Police, via Pol. Lt. Col. Nawiwit Thirawit, Deputy Commander, requesting an update on the investigation progress by the Bo Rai Police Station investigators. Additionally, it was recently discovered that individuals have been secretly entering the area to continuously excavate and widen the waterway.

Previously, on March 23, 2025, the Department of Mineral Resources, together with several other agencies, inspected the stone mill site, examined the encroached public canal area, and arrested offenders for constructing and extending structures encroaching on an irrigation waterway, obstructing a waterway without permission, and altering the canal's condition from its original state, approximately 1,200 meters long and 20 meters wide, within the stone mill area.

Following this, Governor Chatraphon Niyom ordered a meeting of irrigation officials, Marine Department officials, provincial land officials, provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office officials, provincial Industry Office officials, and forestry officials — all relevant agencies — to jointly inspect the public waterway encroachment and find solutions to rectify the situation correctly.

The governor also ordered officials from each relevant agency with duties related to the matter to...