La-ngu District

La-ngu ละงู
Amphoe
Amphoe location in Satun Province
Coordinates: 6°51′50″N 99°48′9″E / 6.86389°N 99.80250°E / 6.86389; 99.80250Coordinates: 6°51′50″N 99°48′9″E / 6.86389°N 99.80250°E / 6.86389; 99.80250
Country	Thailand
Province	Satun
Seat	La-ngu
Area
• Total	380.35 km2 (146.85 sq mi)
Population (2005)
• Total	63,933
• Density	168.1/km2 (435/sq mi)
Time zone	ICT (UTC+7)
Postal code	91110
Geocode	9105

La-ngu (Thai: ละงู) is a district (amphoe) of Satun Province, southern Thailand. La-ngu's port, Pak Bara, is the ferry port year-round for boats going to most of the islands in Tarutao Marine National Park, which includes Ko Lipe. It is now the proposed site of Thailand's deep-seaport on the Andaman Sea.

History

La-ngu was one of the three original districts of Satun, at first a minor district (king amphoe) under Thung Wa district. When the pepper production in Thung Wa district declined in the 1910s, many natives moved to the farmland of La-ngu. In 1930 the government adjusted the administrative structure to match the changed economic situation, making La-ngu a district and reducing Thung Wa to a minor district under La-ngu.^[1]

At first subdivided into seven tambon, in 1940 these were reduced to five.^[2] The sixth tambon, Khao Khao, was created on 1 August 1978.^[3]

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Thung Wa, Manang, Khuan Kalong and Tha Phae. To the west is the Andaman Sea.

A big part of the shoreline of the district as well as several islands are part of the Mu Ko Phetra National Park.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 64 villages (muban). Kamphaeng is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambon Kamphaeng. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

Pak Bara deep-seaport

For more than two decades,^[4] plans for a deep-seaport at Pak Bara in La-ngu District have been vetted by the government, only to be dropped, then revived by successive governments. The seaport will be linked to a port in Songkhla on the Gulf of Thailand. The port will be capable of accommodating 825,000 TEU of cargo per year^[5] as well as supertankers. It would mean that vessels would not have to sail through the Malacca Straits, notorious for pirate attacks, to reach deep seaports at Laem Chabang or Bangkok. Construction of the port would involve the creation of an artificial island 430 m wide and one kilometre long, an area of 292 rai about four kilometres offshore connected by a bridge. The project includes the construction of roads, port facilities and railway lines, all totalling about 4,734 rai (757 hectares).^[4][6]

In his televised address of 17 April 2014, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, once again proposed that the project go ahead.^[7] The project has been vociferously opposed by environmental groups and many local residents. Prayut said the port would be Thailand's gateway to the Andaman Sea, linking the country with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He went on to say, "I ask that conflicts in this area be halted. The government will help those affected by this project." Locals say marine traffic, pollution and contamination from logistic and petroleum activities will ruin the environment. The seaport and shipping lanes encroach on Mu Ko Phetra National Park, a source of local food and tourist revenue for locals.^[8] Construction of the seaport would mean that some of the national park would lose its protected status.^[9]

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) was initiated in 2003, to be submitted in April 2016 at a cost of 50 million baht.^[4] An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was completed and approved in June 2009. At that time the project's owner, the Marine Department, was ordered to conduct an environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA), budgeted at 118 million baht. The EHIA was started in March 2015.^[5]

References

External links

• amphoe.com