Bueng Kan Province 3.36

Bueng Kan, also spelled Bung Kan, is the 76th province of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 on 23 March 2011. The province, consisting of the districts partitioned off Nong Khai Province, is in the northeastern region of the country, called Isan . It is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan.GeographyThe 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.In Bung Khla district is the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, protecting forest-covered hills close to the Mekong River.HistoryIn 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 Amphoe Bueng Kan, Amphoe Seka, Amphoe So Phisai, Amphoe Bung Khla, Amphoe Bueng Khong Long, Amphoe Pak Khat, Amphoe Phon Charoen, and Amphoe Si Wilai of Nong Khai Province as a new province. The new province, if created, would be 4,305 km2, with a population of about 390,000 inhabitants. 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.