Bueng Kan Province
Geography
The province is in the northeastern corner of Thailand. It borders, from the south clockwise, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, and Nong Khai province. To the north and east it borders Bolikhamsai province of Laos, with the Mekong River forming the boundary.
Hin Sam Wan (which translates into English as Three Whale Rock) is a 75-million-year-old rock formation protruding out of the mountains. It is so named because, from certain angles, the rocks look like a family of whales.
The total forest area is 280 km (110 sq mi), or 7% of the total provincial area.
National park
There is one national park, along with six other national parks, making region 10 (Udon Thani) of Thailand's protected areas.
- Phu Langka National Park, 50 km (19 sq mi)
Wildlife sanctuary
There is one wildlife sanctuary in region 10 (Udon Thani) of Thailand's protected areas.
- Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, 187 km (72 sq mi)
History
In 1994, Sumet Phromphanhao, a member of the House of Representatives from Nong Khai province, proposed that the province of Bueng Kan be established by consolidating the Bueng Kan, Seka, So Phisai, Bung Khla, Bueng Khong Long, Pak Khat, Phon Charoen, and Si Wilai Districts of Nong Khai province as a new province. The new province, if created, would be 4,305 km, with a population of about 390,000 inhabitants. At that time, the Ministry of Interior replied that creating a new province would load a heavy burden to the state budget and was contrary to the resolution of the Council of Ministers.
The proposal to create Bueng Kan province was tabled for about 20 years, until 2010 when the Ministry of Interior renewed the project and made a proposal to the Council of Ministers to have a "Bill Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE..." (Thai: ร่างพระราชบัญญัติจัดตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ....) considered. In a poll at the time, 99 percent of the inhabitants of Nong Khai province supported the proposal. On 3 August 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly, citing that the proposal met its criteria for approval.
On 7 February 2011, the National Assembly approved the bill. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presented it to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for royal assent. Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the bill on 11 March 2011, enacting it as the "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ. 2554). The act was published in the Government Gazette on 22 March 2011 and came into force the next day.
Economy
Building of the fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge began in 2021. Construction of the bridge is expected to take 3 years for a completion in 2023. The project will link Bueng Kan province with Laos' Bolikhamsai province across the Mekong River. Its cost will be around US$130.3 million. Thailand has agreed to pay US$25.47 million and Laos is covering about US$46.13 million. The bridge will enable Vietnam to be reached by road from Thailand through Laos over a distance of only 150 km. Already existing Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges link Nong Khai province with Vientiane Prefecture (First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge; Mukdahan with Savannakhet (Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge); Nakhon Phanom with Thakhek (Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge); and Chiang Rai province with Houayxay (Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge).
Symbols
The provincial seal of Bueng Kan, Thailand's 76th and newest province, has a depiction of Phu Thok, a mountain in Si Wilai District, an Isan language name which means 'lonely mountain'.
The provincial flower and tree is Bauhinia sirindhorniae K. and S.S. Larsen. An endemic species Neodontobutis aurarmus is the provincial aquatic life.
Climate
Bueng Kan's climate consists of a wet season and a dry season (between December and January). The temperature decreases during November and is at its lowest in December and January. The temperature quickly increases in March, and peaks in April.
Administrative divisions
Provincial government
The province is divided into eight districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 53 subdistricts (tambon) and 615 villages (muban).
Local government
As of 5 August 2020, there is one Bueng Kan Provincial Administrative Organization, also known as PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat); there are also eighteen municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. The capital Bueng Kan has town (thesaban mueang) status and seventeen subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).
Town municipality | Population | ||
1 | Bueng Kan | 19,612 |
Subdistrict mun. | Population | 9 | Non Sawang | 6,920 | |
1 | Si Wilai | 11,120 | 10 | Tha Sa-at | 6,886 |
2 | Pong Hai | 10,502 | 11 | Pak Khat | 6,854 |
3 | Phon Charoen | 10,357 | 12 | So Phisai | 6,728 |
4 | Bueng Khong Long | 9,811 | 13 | Si Phana | 6,678 |
5 | Sang | 8,875 | 14 | Bueng Ngam | 5,670 |
6 | Nong Loeng | 8,725 | 15 | Khai Si | 5,478 |
7 | Ho Kham | 7,260 | 16 | Don Yanang | 5,156 |
8 | Khok Kong | 7,063 | 17 | Si Samran | 4,970 |
The non-municipal areas are administered by 39 Subdistrict Administrative
Organizations (SAO) (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
Human achievement index 2022
Health | Education | Employment | Income |
32 | 53 | 39 | 52 |
Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
7 | 24 | 43 | 54 |
Province Bueng Kan, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6440 is "average", occupies place 34 in the ranking. |
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.
Rank | Classification |
1 - 13 | "high" |
14 - 29 | "somewhat high" |
30 - 45 | "average" |
46 - 61 | "somewhat low" |
62 - 77 | "low" |
Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings |
References
- ^ "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ส.2562 [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). p. 40. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition". <>. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). July 2019. ISSN 1686-0799. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "ครม.ตั้ง 'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 แยกจากหนองคาย". Thairath. 3 August 2010.
- ^ Frederickson, Terry (23 February 2012). "Thailand's Newest Province". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 128 (18 A): 1. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011.
- ^ "Thailand's tourism goes green" – National Geographic
- ^ "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562" [Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019] (PDF). Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ ไทยรัฐ, ครม.ตั้ง 'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 แยกจากหนองคาย, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
- ^ กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ชาวอ.บึงกาฬดีใจ มท.ชงเข้าครม.ตั้งจังหวัดใหม่ Archived 2 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine, 6 พฤษภาคม 2553.
- ^ "Question No. 176 R." (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai). 111 (24 A): 58. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011.
- ^ หนังสือพิมพ์เดลินิวส์ ฉบับวันพุธ ที่ 4 สิงหาคม 2553 หน้า 15
- ^ กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ครม.มติเห็นชอบตั้ง'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 Archived 15 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
- ^ ครม. มีมติตั้ง จังหวัดบึงกาฬ เป็น จังหวัดที่ 77. กระปุกดอตคอม. สืบค้น 10-12-2553.
- ^ วุฒิฯจัดให้ผ่านฉลุยกฎหมายจัดตั้ง 'จังหวัดบึงกาฬ'
- ^ "Construction begins on fifth bridge linking Laos, Thailand". The Straits Times. SPH Media Limited, Co. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Bidding for Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge project scheduled for July". The Star. Xinhua. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Beung Kahn Provincial Escutcheon". THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ บรรยายสรุปจังหวัดบึงกาฬ(in Thai)
- ^ "สถิติทางการทะเบียน" [Registration statistics]. bora.dopa.go.th. Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). December 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
Download จำนวนประชากร ปี พ.ศ.2562 - Download population year 2019
- ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ยุบเลิเทศบาลตำบลวิศิษฐ์ รวมองค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลบึงกาฬกับเทศบาลตำบลบึงกาฬ อำเภอเมืองบึงกาฬ จังหวัดบึงกาฬ และเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตและฐานะเป็นเทศบาลเมืองบึงกาฬ" [Notification of the Ministry of Interior Re: Dissolution of Wisut Subdistrict Municipality and Bueng Kan Subdistrict Administrative Organization Merge with Bueng Kan Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang Bueng Kan District, Bueng Kan province and Change Area and Status to Bueng Kan Town Municipality] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 137 (Special 179 Ngor): 3–4. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "ประวัติความเป็นมา" [History]. sophisai.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
So Phisai subdistrict municipality has been changed from sanitation district on 25 May 1999.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 12 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
No.4.31 Established Sang Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Seka district, Bueng Kan province is Sang subdistrict municipality.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 4 April 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
No.4.35 Established Bueng Khong Long Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Bueng Khong Long district, Bueng Kan province is Bueng Ngam subdistrict municipality, outside Bueng Khong Long subdistrict municipality, effectively 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 27 August 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
No.4.122 Established Nong Loeng Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Bueng Kan province is Nong Loeng subdistrict municipality, effectively 29 August 2012.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 27 October 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
No.3.272 Established Khai Si Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Bueng Kan province is Khai Si subdistrict municipality.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 27 October 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
No.3.271 Established Khok Kong Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Bueng Kan province is Khok Kong subdistrict municipality.
- ^ Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), List of 5,324 SAO's information as of date 20 December 2019, 39 SAO's (no.1929-1969) were established in 1995 (1), in 1996 (15), in 1997 (17) and in 1999 (6).