Stone Mill Accused of Encroaching on Trat Public Canal

Villagers complain that a 'stone mill' refuses to stop dumping soil into 'Khlong Chanak' in Bo Rai district, Trat, which constitutes encroachment on a public waterway. They demand authorities enforce the law and restore the area to its original state.

In the first case, Mr. Apiphat filed a complaint with Bo Rai police investigators against a private company operating the stone mill and its executives. The charges include encroachment, construction on irrigation waterways without permission, and obstruction of irrigation waterways. The offense occurred on a land title deed in Bo Phloi subdistrict, Bo Rai district, Trat province, on March 21, 2025.

Subsequently, Mr. Peeraphat Chatkhong, a transportation official authorized by the Port Authority director, filed an additional complaint with Bo Rai police investigators under Section 119 (as amended by the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, No. 14, B.E. 2535), which prohibits anyone from dumping or causing soil, rocks, sand, or objectionable materials to enter rivers, canals, or public waterways. Section 120, paragraph two (Navigation in Thai Waters Act, B.E. 2456) prohibits anyone from dredging, altering, or performing any act that changes the course of a navigable waterway, river, or canal without permission from the Marine Department.

Additionally, local residents and case followers have questioned the delay in excavating the canal back to its original position. They note that the public waterway Khlong Chanak originally flowed into Khlong Lue but was excavated and diverted to flow into Khlong Tabad instead — an action that violates the law. Villagers therefore demand restoration of the watercourse, urging responsible agencies to strictly enforce the law, preserve public waterways for the common good, and take action against officials who neglect their duties.

Most recently, on October 22, 2026, Pol. Lt. Col. Anon Taosuphap, deputy chief of the Provincial Police Region 2, reported that the previous day, village representatives filed a complaint stating that after the district office inspected the stone mill and examined the encroachment on the public canal, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested suspects for constructing and extending structures that encroached on irrigation waterways without permission, obstructing waterways and altering the canal from its original state. The encroachment lies within the stone mill area, spanning approximately 1,200 meters long and 20 meters wide.

However, it has now been found that additional soil dumping and encroachment continue with no fear of the law. The villagers have therefore requested further assistance from the Central Investigation Bureau to investigate these actions and prosecute the offenders.