Ban Phai district

Ban Phai

บ้านไผ่
Ban Phai บ้านไผ่
District
	District location in Khon Kaen province
	Coordinates: 16°3′36″N 102°43′51″E / 16.06000°N 102.73083°E
Country	Thailand
Province	Khon Kaen
Area
• Total	477.7 km2 (184.4 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	101,031
• Density	211.5/km2 (548/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code	40110
Geocode	4010

Ban Phai (Thai: บ้านไผ่, pronounced [bâːn pʰàj]; Northeastern Thai: บ้านไผ่, pronounced [bâːn pʰāj]) is a district (amphoe) of Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise): Pueai Noi, Nong Song Hong, Non Sila, Chonnabot, Mancha Khiri, and Ban Haet of Khon Kaen Province; Kosum Phisai and Kut Rang of Maha Sarakham province.

History

Originally named Ban Keng (บ้านเกิ้ง), the area was at first a subdistrict (tambon) of Chonnabot district. In 1928 the minor district (king amphoe) Ban Phai was established consisting of three subdistricts split off from Chonnabot.^[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 1 February 1940.^[2] In 1946 Chonnabot was downgraded to be a part of Ban Phai District, until it was reestablished in 1966.

Economy

As of 2019^[update], Thai sugar giant, the Mitr Phol Group, plans to construct a sugarcane mill and biomass power plant in the district. The initiative will occupy 4,000 rai (640 ha; 1,600 acres) of three of the province's neighbouring districts: Ban Phai, Chonnabot, and Non Sila. The operation will form part of the Ban Phai Bio-Hub Industrial Estate and is linked to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. Mitr Phol's plans have been met with some opposition from local residents.^[3] Mitr Phol has pledged that the factory will have no adverse environmental effects.^[4]

Administration

The district is divided into 10 subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 113 villages (mubans). Ban Phai is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers parts of tambons Ban Phai, Khaen Nuea, and Nai Mueang. There are a further 10 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai name	Villages	Pop.
1.	Ban Phai	บ้านไผ่	13	17,858
2.	Nai Mueang	ในเมือง	9	26,566
5.	Mueang Phia	เมืองเพีย	13	9,634
9.	Ban Lan	บ้านลาน	15	8,768
10.	Khaen Nuea	แคนเหนือ	9	6,973
11.	Phu Lek	ภูเหล็ก	8	5,966
13.	Pa Po	ป่าปอ	9	7,505
14.	Hin Tang	หินตั้ง	11	7,864
16.	Nong Nam Sai	หนองน้ำใส	11	6,246
17.	Hua Nong	หัวหนอง	6	3,651