Bang Krachao property boom threatens Bangkok's 'lung'

[webfact]

GREEN
Bang Krachao property boom threatens city's 'lung'
THANAPAT KITJAKOSOL
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- As rapidly expanding property developments prompt land prices in the capital to skyrocket, the Bang Krachao area in Samut Prakan's Phra Pradaeng district - a vast, lush expanse dubbed the "lung of Bangkok" - has seen a deterioration of its pristine environment, as large amounts of its green areas are lost each year to housing estates and fruit plantations.

Residents are selling their lands to well-paying developers, at an annual rate of around 100 rai on the 11,819-rai area, located along the bank of the Chao Phraya River to the west of Bangkok, while many others turn their plots into lucrative orange plantations, which require huge amounts of chemical fertilisers and insecticides, prompting a key ecological concern in the long run.

Thanks to its lush greenery, the expanse yields an average of 2 degrees Celsius cooler than the area of the capital just across the river, according to research by Kasetsart University cited at a recent seminar. During the hot season, the temperature difference between green areas and residential areas in the capital can be as large as 4 degrees, which is very meaningful amid the current rise in global temperatures, said Jongrak Watcharinrat, a lecturer at KU's Faculty of Forestry. Jongrak spoke at the seminar, titled "Research and Development of Green Areas in Bang Krachao for Sustainability"

Given Bang Krachao's picturesque riverbank landscape, which is enveloped by a curve in the Chao Phraya, residents there are selling their much-sought-after land to property developers, who build both housing estates and high-rise condominium buildings, pushing land prices to Bt10 million per rai and rising.

Panalee Mangkornsaksit, a forestry official handling a government project approved in 1991 to set up a so-called "mid-city garden" in the Bang Krachao area, said residents are cutting down cork trees and similar plants, which hold the riverbanks together, to make way for the orange plantations, while developers also encroach the banks cutting down these trees in the process.

"These plants firmly hold together the land along the riverbank, with their roots connecting to each other like spiders' webs. Once they are removed the muddy riverbank land will soon collapse and these houses and condos will be standing in the water," she said.

"Chemicals used on orange plantations would also certainly drain into the river and contaminate it to some degree, which would also be a huge ecological concern," Panalee said.

Panalee said the 1,276-rai government "city garden" project, which was initiated in 1977 but only approved 14 years later, was still being developed, but cooperation from residents had deteriorated since the property boom. The project now tries to preserve the greenery in the Bang Krachao area, but its plan to acquire an estimated 9,000 rai was being hindered by the high land prices, which made residents willing to sell their plots to wellpaying developers.

Royal Forestry Department directorgeneral Bunchob Sutthamanaswong, citing a suggestion by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, said areas outside of the project should be taken care of through a government effort to encourage residents to maintain the green areas and grow more plants suitable to the area.

The Princess, quoted by Bunchob, also suggested that no more large buildings - even government offices - should be constructed in Bang Krachao, and large trees should be protected. The manager of a similar project, Bart Lambregts, told the seminar that Bang Krachao should be kept as the "lung of Bangkok", just as Central Park serves as the "lung of New York City".


-- The Nation 2013-10-24

[arthurboy]

I can just see property speculators/ land owners/ fruit growers/ people with influence and power ringing their hands over this.

What to do, what to do? Shall I take the money or protect the environment? Mmmm, let me see now...

[Ianatlarge]

Lets keep this simple. The national government buys out the existing landowners at a fair price (rather than buying rice), and creates a park—one that will not be developed.

[rametindallas]

If the government cared one iota, they would zone it to prevent change of land use. Simple, but only if you care.

[Tatsujin]

Lets keep this simple. The national government buys out the existing landowners at a fair price (rather than buying rice), and creates a park—one that will not be developed.

Not complicated is it . . . they could have used some of the money wasted on the rich scam for this . . . would have been a much better use of public funds.

[RayHaas]

80 years ago they banned the Mon from entering Bangkok and gave them the lungs so they would be out of the way. Now the same people that banned them 80 plus years ago buy the land back of them?

[Card]

I understood this area was given to a hilltribe mercenaries by a King in gratitude for helping him or something. I was told it can't be developed by outsiders. can't be true then. why hasn't it been developed up to now?

[fab4]

If the government cared one iota, they would zone it to prevent change of land use. Simple, but only if you care.

Zoning doesn't count for a lot, especially in the Democrat controlled areas of the South, like Phuket, if you want more read up on Suthep and his son. Real paragons of virtue, the Democrats

There is of course a political angle behind this. Most of the encroachers in the PACC investigation are aligned to the Democratic Party. South Thailand is of course the Democratic stronghold. The Pheu Thai government is cleaning out corruption in its rival party. There is an element of 'If you think we're corrupt, well take a look at this!' about it. And in this case former Prime Minister and Democratic leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is understandably remaining silent. A lot started on his watch. http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2012/07/scandal-of-thailand-nature-defying.html

Oh and before we get the puerile "but Abhisit " argument, please note the balanced viewpoint this gives to the post it's replying to.

Edited October 24, 2013 by fab4

[SOTIRIOS]

......people start wars for profit.....so what do you think the chances are......

[Mudlover]

I'd love to see the details of a project that was proposed in 1977, approved in 1991 and is still being developed today. Some project.

[yingyo]

Lets keep this simple. The national government buys out the existing landowners at a fair price (rather than buying rice), and creates a park—one that will not be developed.

They have already done that.

And created the massive Suan Sri Nakhon Khuenkhan park.

http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com/travel/travel_detail.php?l=en&code=5841

Maybe only comment on things that you actually know about.

[Baerboxer]

Lets keep this simple. The national government buys out the existing landowners at a fair price (rather than buying rice), and creates a park—one that will not be developed.

Great idea - and one that would be well applauded.

More likely scenario is the government seize the land, or pay a peppercorn price, then allow "connected" people to buy it at much lower than market prices, and then sell it off to the highest bidder, banking a massive profit offshore. Sad.

[Baerboxer]

If the government cared one iota, they would zone it to prevent change of land use. Simple, but only if you care.

Zoning doesn't count for a lot, especially in the Democrat controlled areas of the South, like Phuket, if you want more read up on Suthep and his son. Real paragons of virtue, the Democrats

There is of course a political angle behind this. Most of the encroachers in the PACC investigation are aligned to the Democratic Party. South Thailand is of course the Democratic stronghold. The Pheu Thai government is cleaning out corruption in its rival party. There is an element of 'If you think we're corrupt, well take a look at this!' about it. And in this case former Prime Minister and Democratic leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is understandably remaining silent. A lot started on his watch. http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2012/07/scandal-of-thailand-nature-defying.html

Oh and before we get the puerile "but Abhisit " argument, please note the balanced viewpoint this gives to the post it's replying to.

It might give it balance if you also included the land scams and land associated corruptions of those connected to the current regime, it's leader and clan.

[sprq]

I understood this area was given to a hilltribe mercenaries by a King in gratitude for helping him or something. I was told it can't be developed by outsiders. can't be true then. why hasn't it been developed up to now?

I was told by the owner of a riverside eco-hotel in the area that the whole peninsula formed by a grand loop in the river -- which is what it is, The Nation should have said -- was declared a protected area by a dictator (Sarit, I think) back in the 1950s, in which no commercial development was allowed and no buildings could be taller than palm tree height. That seemed to apply on the two recent occasions I've been to Phra Padaeng, so I do not really understand this report.

See this also www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/travel/escaping-to-bangkoks-green-lung.html?_r=0

[Tazwa]

Lets keep this simple. The national government buys out the existing landowners at a fair price (rather than buying rice), and creates a park—one that will not be developed.

They have already done that.

And created the massive Suan Sri Nakhon Khuenkhan park.

http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com/travel/travel_detail.php?l=en&code=5841

Maybe only comment on things that you actually know about.

I don't think lantalarge even suggested this strategy was something new. He just suggested a sensible idea.

Maybe don't comment at all Yingyo.

[timewilltell]

If the government cared one iota, they would zone it to prevent change of land use. Simple, but only if you care.

Zoning doesn't count for a lot, especially in the Democrat controlled areas of the South, like Phuket, if you want more read up on Suthep and his son. Real paragons of virtue, the Democrats

There is of course a political angle behind this. Most of the encroachers in the PACC investigation are aligned to the Democratic Party. South Thailand is of course the Democratic stronghold. The Pheu Thai government is cleaning out corruption in its rival party. There is an element of 'If you think we're corrupt, well take a look at this!' about it. And in this case former Prime Minister and Democratic leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is understandably remaining silent. A lot started on his watch. http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2012/07/scandal-of-thailand-nature-defying.html

Oh and before we get the puerile "but Abhisit " argument, please note the balanced viewpoint this gives to the post it's replying to.

Unfortunately your story is hugely biased since Thaksin and his family have a huge proprty portfolio in Phuket, a large amount illegally gained Henderson the transfer of the guy investigating encroachment of forestry land, the mayor of Patong stole a load of land leading up to freedom beach in cahoots with others. I think your comment would be more balanced if you included all the relevant information rather than just that which supports your own political view.

The PTP appears to me to be by far the more corrupt of the two parties by the way, though if the

PTP are black then the Democrats are definitely a very dark midnight blue. What is needed is a politician with morals and the country at heart though searching I find it difficult to see even one - if there were I would fear for their longevity.