Bueng Kan (Thai: บึงกาฬ, RTGSBueng Kan, pronounced [bɯ̄ŋ kāːn]), also spelled Bung Kan,[7] is the 76th province (changwat) of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011) on 23 March 2011.[8] The province, consisting of the districts (amphoe) partitioned off Nong Khai province, lies in upper northeastern Thailand also called Isan (Thai: อีสาน). It is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan.

Bueng Kan
บึงกาฬ
Cliff side, Phu Thok
Cliff side, Phu Thok
Flag of Bueng Kan
Official seal of Bueng Kan
Motto(s): 
ภูทอกแหล่งพระธรรม ค่าล้ำยางพารา งามตาแก่งอาฮง บึงโขงหลงเพลินใจ น้ำตกใสเจ็ดสี ประเพณีแข่งเรือ เหนือสุดแดนอีสาน นมัสการหลวงพ่อใหญ่ ศูนย์รวมใจศาลสองนาง
("Phu Thok, the source of Dharma. Valuable rubber. Beautiful A Hong Rapids. Fascnating Bueng Khong Long. Clear seven-coloured waterfalls. Boat race traditions. Northernmost of the northeast. Worship Luang Pho Yai. United by Song Nang Shrine.")
Map of Thailand highlighting Bueng Kan province
Map of Thailand highlighting Bueng Kan province
Coordinates: 18°09′22.6″N 103°45′16″E / 18.156278°N 103.75444°E / 18.156278; 103.75444
CountryThailand
Created23 March 2011
CapitalBueng Kan
Government
 • GovernorSanit Khaosa-ard
(since October 2019)[1]
Area
 • Total4,003 km2 (1,546 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 55th
Population
 (2019)[3]
 • Total424,091
 • RankRanked 62nd
 • Density106/km2 (270/sq mi)
  • RankRanked 48th
Human Achievement Index
 • HAI (2022)0.6440 "average"
Ranked 34th
GDP
 • Totalbaht 27 billion
(US$0.8 billion) (2019)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
38xxx
Calling code042
ISO 3166 codeTH-38
Websitewww.buengkan.go.th
Bueng Kan province area[6]

Geography

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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.[9]
The total forest area is 280 km2 (110 sq mi), or 7% of the total provincial area.[2]

National park

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There is one national park, along with six other national parks, making region 10 (Udon Thani) of Thailand's protected areas.

Wildlife sanctuary

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There is one wildlife sanctuary in region 10 (Udon Thani) of Thailand's protected areas.

History

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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 km2,[12] with a population of about 390,000 inhabitants.[13] 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.[14]

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.[13] In a poll at the time, 99 percent of the inhabitants of Nong Khai province supported the proposal.[13] On 3 August 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly,[15][16] citing that the proposal met its criteria for approval.[17]

On 7 February 2011, the National Assembly approved the bill.[18] 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.[8]

Economy

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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).[19][20]

Symbols

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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'.[21]

The provincial flower and tree is Bauhinia sirindhorniae K. and S.S. Larsen.[citation needed] An endemic species Neodontobutis aurarmus is the provincial aquatic life.

Climate

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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.[22]

Administrative divisions

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Provincial government

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Bueng Kan province with districts

The province is divided into eight districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 53 subdistricts (tambon) and 615 villages (muban).

Local government

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  Town municipality (thesaban mueang)
  Subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon)

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).[23]

  Town municipality Population  
  1 Bueng Kan[24] 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[25] 6,728
  4 Bueng Khong Long   9,811 13 Si Phana 6,678
  5 Sang[26]   8,875 14 Bueng Ngam[27] 5,670
  6 Nong Loeng[28]   8,725 15 Khai Si[29] 5,478
  7 Ho Kham   7,260 16 Don Yanang 5,156
  8 Khok Kong[30]   7,063 17 Si Samran 4,970

The non-municipal areas are administered by 39 Subdistrict Administrative
Organizations (SAO) (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[31]

Human achievement index 2022

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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.[4]

Rank Classification
  1 - 13 "high"
14 - 29 "somewhat high"
30 - 45 "average"
46 - 61 "somewhat low"
62 - 77 "low"

References

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  1. ^ "ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง แต่งตั้งข้าราชการพลเรือนสามัญ" [Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office regarding the appointment of civil servants] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 136 (Special 242 Ngor). 12. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "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, information, Forest statistics Year 2019, Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration in 2013{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved 12 March 2024, page 40{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "ครม.ตั้ง 'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 แยกจากหนองคาย". Thairath. 3 August 2010.
  7. ^ Frederickson, Terry (23 February 2012). "Thailand's Newest Province". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b "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.
  9. ^ "Thailand's tourism goes green"National Geographic
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ ไทยรัฐ, ครม.ตั้ง 'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 แยกจากหนองคาย, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
  13. ^ a b c กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ชาวอ.บึงกาฬดีใจ มท.ชงเข้าครม.ตั้งจังหวัดใหม่ Archived 2 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine, 6 พฤษภาคม 2553.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ หนังสือพิมพ์เดลินิวส์ ฉบับวันพุธ ที่ 4 สิงหาคม 2553 หน้า 15
  16. ^ กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ครม.มติเห็นชอบตั้ง'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 Archived 15 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
  17. ^ ครม. มีมติตั้ง จังหวัดบึงกาฬ เป็น จังหวัดที่ 77. กระปุกดอตคอม. สืบค้น 10-12-2553.
  18. ^ วุฒิฯจัดให้ผ่านฉลุยกฎหมายจัดตั้ง 'จังหวัดบึงกาฬ'
  19. ^ "Construction begins on fifth bridge linking Laos, Thailand". The Straits Times. SPH Media Limited, Co. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Bidding for Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge project scheduled for July". The Star. Xinhua. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Beung Kahn Provincial Escutcheon". THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  22. ^ บรรยายสรุปจังหวัดบึงกาฬ(in Thai)
  23. ^ "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
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ 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).
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