Thung Song district

Thung Song (Thai: ทุ่งสง, pronounced [tʰûŋ sǒŋ]) is a district (amphoe) in the southwestern part of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand.

Thung Song
ทุ่งสง
District
Thung Song Junction railway station
Thung Song Junction railway station
District location in Nakhon Si Thammarat province
District location in Nakhon Si Thammarat province
Coordinates: 8°9′53″N 99°40′51″E
CountryThailand
ProvinceNakhon Si Thammarat
SeatPak Phraek
Area
 • Total1,042.0 km2 (402.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total151,563
 • Density140.3/km2 (363/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code80110
Geocode8009

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise): Bang Khan, Thung Yai, Na Bon, Chang Klang, Lan Saka, Ron Phibun, Chulabhorn, and Cha-uat of Nakhon Si Thammarat province; Huai Yot and Ratsada of Trang province.

Administration

The district is divided into 13 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 125 villages (mubans). Thung Song is a town (thesaban mueang) covering tambon Pak Phraek. There are a further 12 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.
1.Pak Phraekปากแพรก-27,358
2.Chamaiชะมาย812,127
3.Nong Hongหนองหงส์149,722
4.Khuan Krotควนกรด139,525
5.Na Mai Phaiนาไม้ไผ่148,420
6.Na Luang Senนาหลวงเสน99,228
7.Khao Roเขาโร119,235
8.Kapangกะปาง1114,578
9.Thi Wangที่วัง1112,401
10.Namtokน้ำตก62,819
11.Tham Yaiถ้ำใหญ่1112,102
12.Na Phoนาโพธิ์55,779
13.Khao Khaoเขาขาว1212,932
  Map of tambons

Environment

In the 1980s a dam project was conceived to solve the district's drought problem. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was conducted in 2003 by the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). It was updated in 2009. Nothing further happened until the National Environmental Board (NEB) approved the EIA on 27 May 2016.[1] In December 2019, the Thai cabinet approved the project. Local residents say that the dam is no longer needed, as newer water management infrastructure such as weirs and small check dams have solved drought problems. The site of the dam is now classified as a 1A watershed forest area and locals do not want to see it inundated. The proposed Wang Heeb Dam will cost 2.3 billion baht and will displace 40 families. The RID insists that it must proceed with the project as it has been approved.[2] The government's goal is clear according to one observer: "...maintaining a firm grip on central control and suppressing local forest management efforts which will dilute their power."[3]

At Ban Nuea, Namtok Subdistrict is the southernmost subdistrict on the border between the three provinces; Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, and Phatthalung. The sambar deer live here freely without fear of threats from humans. About 20 years ago, there were less than 10 deer in the Ban Nuea forest, a result of the conservation efforts of the villagers. This causes the population of deer to increase. The Ban Nuea locals consider sambar deer to be part of the community.[4]

See also

References
  1. Wipatayotin, Apinya (2019-01-23). "Resistance mounts against contested dam project". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  2. Kongrut, Anchalee (2019-01-26). "Irrigation Dept must change with the times" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  3. Ekachai, Sanitsuda (2019-01-28). "Autocratic bureaucracy is our No.1 foe" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  4. Rongdej, Wasawat (2023-09-08). "สดจากเยาวชน: "คนกับกวาง" ฤดูกาลแสนอร่อย-ป่าสุกงอม-สวยสะพรั่งที่ทุ่งสง" [Live from the youth: “man and deer” delicious season-ripe forest-beautiful in Thung Song]. Khaosod (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-09-15.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.