Electricity Void Stunting Island Outer Growth
The lack of electricity on outlaying islands close to the bustling tourism and economic hub of Phuket appears to be inexplicable.
Given the critical mass of infrastructure and prosperity that the Provincial capital enjoys it's hard to believe that less than 3 kilometers from the Governor's office in Phuket the island of Koh Maphrao (Coconut) still languishes in relative darkness.
Perhaps the biggest tourism investment on the island The Village has continued to run its operation on costly generators now for a few years despite pleas to the Government to install power from the nearby mainland.
While in the South, recent news is that Koh Lone will obtain a list some limited electricity service by means smallish hydro-electric facility. Depending on water resources and rain, this will only provide enough power for low rated fluorescent lighting.
In some ways Phuket and Bali are seeing similar issue in the age of the tourism boom, with the later mainly restricted to the Southern part of the island, and there is a continued concern over the divide between haves and the have-nots.