Nong Khai’s Bung Kan district upgraded as 77th province

Thai Cabinet on Tuesday has upgraded Bung Kan district of the northeastern province of Nong Khai as Thailand‘s 77th province comprising eight Nong Khai districts, as proposed by the Ministry of Interior.

Marut Massayavanich, deputy government spokesman, told a press briefing that the cabinet agreed in principle for a draft bill to elevate Bung Kan district to provincial status before submitting it to Office of the Juridical Council for further consideration.

An upgrade to a new province followed a request made by local residents as Nong Khai local authorities faced difficulties in managing administrative work and solving border problems in remote areas, 350 kilometres from the provincial seat.

If the district is set up as the 77th province, it will help improve administration and will help officials to solve local problems, Mr Marut said.

However, the new province’s establishment will not need much budget from the government as local government offices, court and public utility, including the electricity system, water supply and telephone system, have already been put in place.

In addition, government officials concerned have prepared 870 rai (348 acres) of land to build a provincial hall.

The 77th province encompasses some 4,305 square kilometres, consisting of eight districts of Bung Kan, Seka, So Phisai, Phon Charoen, Pak Khat, Bung Khong Long, Si Wilai and Bung Khla with population of nearly 400,000.

Nong Khai is north of Udon Thani in the north-east of Thailand, and it borders Laos and is across the Mekong river close to Vientiane – ED