Mueang Ratchaburi district
Mueang Ratchaburi is the capital district of Ratchaburi province, western Thailand. the population of the district was 122,747.
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 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 as the first superintendent commissioner. At first the provincial administration was in Photharam District, but was moved to tambon Na Mueang in 1898.
Geography
Neighboring districts are 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 is the site of the 1,400-megawatt Hin Kong Power Plant, a gas-fired combined-cycle power station operated by Ratch Group and Gulf Energy Development. The project was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in 2019 and developed under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Construction began in 2020 with an investment cost estimated at US $700 million. The first 700-MW unit began commercial operation in March 2024 and the second in January 2025. The 1,400-MW facility supplies electricity to Thailand’s central power grid and forms part of the country’s 2018 Power Development Plan, intended to improve generation efficiency and support natural-gas-based transition energy policy.
Administration
The district is divided into 22 sub-districts, which are further subdivided into 187 villages. The town Ratchaburi covers the complete tambon Na Mueang. The township 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.
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 exceeded their standards. They also found high levels of volatile organic compounds such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene 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.