Chao Phraya riverbank and canal communities, old buildings to be preserved national heritage

[webfact]

Chao Phraya riverbank and canal communities, old buildings to be preserved national heritage



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will preserve a seven kilometre long stretch of the Chao Phraya River and its surrounding environments a national heritage site with plan for the rehabilitation and renovation to finish in July 2017.

Public hearing of the rehabilitation plan was out forward to people living along riverbank communities to be affected to voice their opinions at the BMA by the Department of City Planning (DCP) yesterday.

Academics and representatives from several government agencies also attended to voice their opinions.

DCP director Wanchai Tanomsak said initial survey of the riverbank communities showed most residents supported the plan to rehabilitate and renovate the river and its surrounding environments a national heritage site.

He said the survey along the seven kilometre stretch for rehabilitation starts from Memorial Bridge to Tha Vasukri ferry boat pier.

Along the stretch, he said, the survey found more than 200 sites with historic values that ate worth for preservation as national heritage.

They comprise old riverbank communities, religious places, public and private old structures.

He said most riverbank residents agreed with the rehabilitation and wanted to have participation so that they could help to preserve the cultural heritages jointly with the BMA.

He said primary feasibility study has proposed rehabilitation and renovation in four categories, river and connected canals, old buildings and structures, riverbank communities, and local custom and cultures.

The Fine Arts Department will also join the BMA to rehabilitate and renovate the seven kilometre stretch of the Chao Phraya riverbank areas to national heritage sites, he said.

BMA city clerk Santa Cheenimit earlier said the BMA has set aside 1.4 billion baht for its “New Landmark of Thailand” scheme.

According to Bangkok Post, the scheme, initiated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, involves the construction of riverbank walkway spanning seven kilometres along both banks of the between Rama 7 and Pinklao bridges.

Most of the budget will be used for the construction and demolition of structures, and compensation for affected residents.

The work is expected to start in January 2016 and end in July 2017.

The rehabilitation and related walkway plan will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval by next week.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/chao-phraya-riverbank-and-canal-communities-old-buildings-to-be-preserved-national-heritage


-- Thai PBS 2015-05-08

[asdecas]

I fear this worthy plan will only last as long as avaricious developers, their greed stimulated at the prospect of seven kilometres of prime riverside real estate filled with five- and six-star hotels, are unaided by the next return of grubby politicians.

Once the likes of Banharn, Police Captain Chalerm and the rest of the pork-barrel boys are back, all bets will be off.

[Fullstop]

old buildings to be preserved national heritage

Right up there with The Taj Mahal...