Friday, May 29, 2009

Muban number exchange?

When I wrote about the numerical geocodes for the administrative villages, one of the most important problem I noted was the fact that the codes are not unique in time. When a new subdistrict was created, the remaining villages got renumbered, sometimes explicitly stated in the Royal Gazette announcement, sometimes implicitly. Thus as the last new subdistrict was created in 1997, I thought at least till then the village numbers haven't changed anymore.

But by random check of websites of subdistrict (Tambon) administrative organizations, I came across one case where a renumbering did take place recently. Bang Kaeo (บางแก้ว), Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi province is subdivided into eight villages, which according to the TAO website have the following names.
หมู่ที่NameEnglish name
1บ้านบางแก้วBan Bang Kaeo
2บ้านนาแคBan Na Khae
3บ้านทำเนียบBan Tham Niap
4บ้านบนดอนBan Bon Don
5บ้านหนองแห้วBan Nong Haeo
6บ้านนาบัวBan Na Bua
7บ้านร่องใหญ่Ban Rong Yai
8บ้านเหมืองกลางBan Mueang Klang
This table is confirmed by the Excel sheet for Phetchaburi which I found some months ago.

But - looking back at the 2002 Royal Gazette announcement with which the creation of village 7 and 8 was made official, the following section is found.
แยกหมู่บ้านเหมืองกลาง หมู่ที่ ๑ ตำบลบางแก้ว จัดตั้งเป็นหมู่บ้านใหม่อีก ๑ หมู่บ้าน ชื่อหมู่บ้านบางแก้ว โดยตั้งเป็นหมู่ที่ ๘ ตำบลบางแก้ว และให้มี อาณาเขต ดังนี
Translated, this means that Ban Mueang Klang Mu 1 of Tambon Bang Kaeo is split and one new village is created named Ban Bang Kaeo Mu 8 of Tambon Bang Kaeo. This is probably no mistake in the announcement, as ThaiTambon also confirms these names.

Thus, the names of village 1 and 8 have been changed between 2002 and 2009. Either, they really exchanged the names of the two Muban, or the numbers of the Muban have been exchanged but the names still refer to the same area as they did in 2002.

Needless to say that my inquiry on this issue at the TAO was left unanswered...

No comments: