The Land Department has revoked title deeds issued to land plots in Phuket and Phangnga provinces, said a department spokesman.

Suchart Dokmaipeng said the department has resolved to revoke Nor Sor 3 Kor land occupation papers issued to 29 land plots in Phuket's tambon Rassada, Muang district.

According to Mr Suchart, the plots are in forest areas and thus the land papers have been unlawfully issued.

The department is cooperating with the Land Development Department in further examining those plots to facilitate the revocation process, he said.

In Phangnga, the department has agreed to revoke Nor Sor 3 Kor papers issued to 21 plots in tambon Phru, Ko Yao district, as the land sits in forest reserves.

He said the department has also revoked Nor Sor 3 Kor land deeds issued to 598 plots, out of 628 plots being investigated, in Kapong district.

The revocation of land title deeds follows an order by Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who demanded investigation into the issuance of land ownership papers.

In Surat Thani province, the department has revoked deeds issued to two plots of The Peak property development project and set up a committee to look into the land papers issued to four plots under the project, said Mr Suchart.

He also said that investigations into unlawfully issued land deeds across the country, including on Koh Chang in Trat province and Chanthaburi's Khao Soi Dao, are under way.

According to him, provincial governors are being urged to be more careful about issuing land papers following a report that foreigners have tried to occupy land through nominees.

Meanwhile, Thawal Thimasarn, a Land Department executive in charge of issuance of land papers, said that authorities are speeding up an inquiry into alleged encroachment of state railway land by members of the Chidchob family in Buri Ram's Khao Kradong.

He said the inquiry will be wrapped up after the State Railway of Thailand identifies its land rights