Mueang Ratchaburi
เมืองราชบุรี
Mitr Phol Stadium, home stadium of Ratchaburi F.C.
District location in Ratchaburi province
District location in Ratchaburi province
Coordinates: 13°31′42″N 99°48′42″E / 13.52833°N 99.81167°E / 13.52833; 99.81167
CountryThailand
ProvinceRatchaburi
SeatNa Mueang
Area
  Total430.30 km2 (166.14 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
  Total122,747
  Density471.75/km2 (1,221.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code70000
Geocode7001

Mueang Ratchaburi (Thai: เมืองราชบุรี, pronounced [mɯ̄a̯ŋ râːt.t͡ɕʰā.bū.rīː]) is the capital district (amphoe mueang) of Ratchaburi province, western Thailand. As of 2017 the population of the district was 122,747.[1]

History

The history of the area can be dated back to the Dvaravati town, Khu Bua, just a few kilometres south of the modern town of Ratchaburi. After being deserted for about 300 years, the town was reestablished near Wat Mahathat by King U-Thong of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In 1817 the town centre was moved to the opposite bank of the Mae Klong River.

The district was one of the five original districts of Monthon Ratchaburi that were established in 1895 with Phraya Surinthararuchai (Thet Bunnag) as the first superintendent commissioner.[2] At first the provincial administration was in Photharam District, but was moved to tambon Na Mueang in 1898.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Photharam and Damnoen Saduak of Ratchaburi Province, Bang Khonthi of Samut Songkhram province, Wat Phleng, Pak Tho, and Chom Bueng of Ratchaburi.

The main river of the district is the Mae Klong.

Economy

Hin Kong Subdistrict will be the site of a 1,400 MW gas-fired power plant operated by SET-listed Ratch Group PLC.[3] Construction will commence in 2021. The first block of 700 MW will come online in 2024 and the second 700 MW block in 2025. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the plant, which will cost US$700 million (21.7 billion baht), in 2019. Ratch signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), which owns a 45% stake in Ratch.[4]

Administration

The district is divided into 22 sub-districts (tambons),[5] which are further subdivided into 187 villages (muban). The town (thesaban mueang) Ratchaburi covers the complete tambon Na Mueang. The township (thesaban tambon) Khao Ngu covers parts of tambons Chedi Hak and Ko Phlapphla. Lak Mueang covers Khok Mo, Phong Sawai, Huai Chinsi and all of Ang Thong. There are a further 18 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

1.Na Mueangหน้าเมือง
2.Chedi Hakเจดีย์หัก
3.Don Takoดอนตะโก
4.Nong Klang Naหนองกลางนา
5.Huai Phaiห้วยไผ่
6.Khung Nam Wonคุ้งน้ำวน
7.Khung Krathinคุ้งกระถิน
8.Ang Thongอ่างทอง
9.Khok Moโคกหม้อ
10.Sam Rueanสามเรือน
11.Phikun Thongพิกุลทอง
12.Nam Phuน้ำพุ
13.Don Raeดอนแร่
14.Hin Kongหินกอง
15.Khao Raengเขาแร้ง
16.Ko Phlapphlaเกาะพลับพลา
17.Lum Dinหลุมดิน
18.Bang Paบางป่า
19.Phong Sawaiพงสวาย
20.Khu Buaคูบัว
21.Tha Rapท่าราบ
22.Ban Raiบ้านไร่

Environment

Since at least 2001, villagers of tambon Nam Pu have complained about toxic wastewater from an industrial waste treatment plant they suspected of contaminating their water. Wax Garbage Recycle Centre, an industrial waste treatment plant, began its operation in the upstream area of Nam Pu Creek about the same time as contamination became evident. The pollution spread to tambon Rang Bua of Chom Bueng district. Responding to complaints, the Thai Pollution Control Department tested creek water and groundwater. It found that levels of heavy metals (lead, nickel, and barium) exceeded their standards. They also found high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, 1,1,2-trichloromethane and Cis-1,2-dichloroethylene. The Department of Industrial Works and Ratchaburi's Industry Office, since 2002, have sent 19 letters ordering the plant to improve its operation, and at least six orders for the plant to shut down parts of its facility. Despite efforts by the authorities, the plant is still in operation and toxic wastewater contamination continues unabated.[6]

References

  1. "Population and house statistics for 2017". Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. Tej Bunnag (1977). The provincial administration of Siam, 1892-1915: the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-580343-4.
  3. "RATCH : RATCH GROUP PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED". Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  4. Praiwan, Yuthana (27 July 2019). "Ratch to rev up Hin Kong plant in 2021". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  5. "ข้อมูลตำบล ราชบุรี: อำเภอเมือง" [Ratchaburi Information: Capital District] (in Thai). ThaiTambon. Archived from the original on 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  6. Israngkura na Ayudhya, Adis. "Tainted water saga has roots in poor policy". Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Retrieved 15 September 2017.


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