Chao Phraya walkway project: Activists threaten to sue Thai govt

[webfact]

RIVERSIDE WALKWAY PROJECT
Activists threaten to sue govt
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT'S plan to build walkways along the Chao Phraya River is being threatened by a group of environmental activists who plan to take their fight to the courts.

The Stop Global Warming Association has launched its campaign against the Bt14-billion Chao Phraya Riverside Walkway project.

It said the project did not undergo a proper impact assessment and a public hearing process.

Srisuwan Janya, the association's president, said in a statement released yesterday that the project would deeply affect riverside communities' way of life as well as businesses and historic sites along the river.

"This is a gigantic project, which will surely result in wide and imminent consequences on the communities. Such a huge project requires careful impact assessment and transparent public hearing but this project has already been accepted by the Cabinet without following these procedures," Srisuwan said.

The project was approved by the Cabinet this month. According to the plan, the walkway - 19.5 metres wide with a height of 2.8 metres on both sides of the river - will run along a seven-kilometre strip from Rama VII Bridge to Phra Pinklao Bridge. Bicycle lanes and a waterside promenade will also be built.

"Our group will hand over the [protest] letter to the prime minister tomorrow [today] to express our disagreement and ask the government to halt the project until the impact study and public hearings are done," he said.

"If the government ignores our movement and goes ahead with the project, we will sue the government via the Administrative Court," he added.

Parinya Charuenbandit, a Seoul National University doctoral-degree student in city planning, said he doubted the government was spending so much money on a low-tech project just to make a profit from surplus money.

Team Group director Chawalit Chantararat, a water management expert, remarked that the project would reduce flood risk, as it would allow easier flow of water unlike at present with the houses encroaching on the river.

Taiwut Khankaew, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Building Control Division director, said the BMA had held four public hearings on the project.

"At the last public hearing, 200 people from five communities understood and accepted the project. They were willing to receive compensation from the government," Taiwut said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Activists-threaten-to-sue-govt-30260146.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-15

[thesetat2013]

Wow! 200 people from 5 communities accepted the gov offer for compensation to relocate.

Out of 273 square kilometers that probably house thousands of people and hundreds of homes.

[cumgranosalum]

Why do schemes like this which have been debunked for decades still have appeal to governments in Thailand?

[trogers]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

[FireMedic]

God forbid they try to anything to make the place nice. As of now, I'm not sure who would want to take an after dinner stroll along the river. You might lose it after you see your 100 bloated rat, dog, cat, or human body parts floating next to the wall. They will have to clean up the river first before people will come to see it.

[WhizBang]

Why do schemes like this which have been debunked for decades still have appeal to governments in Thailand?

This is Thailand, so you should know the answer. One word... BAHT.

[AlQaholic]

So the slum along the rivers will be affected by this? Contact Greenpeace and Amnesty!!!

[cumgranosalum]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

[cumgranosalum]

God forbid they try to anything to make the place nice. As of now, I'm not sure who would want to take an after dinner stroll along the river. You might lose it after you see your 100 bloated rat, dog, cat, or human body parts floating next to the wall. They will have to clean up the river first before people will come to see it.

"Nice place" is a totally subjective term....the ecology of the river is a science and how it flows/opertates effects all who live along the bank....not just those who think a concrete pavement is a "nice place".

PS - have you considered the ramifications during its construction?

[trogers]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

[quidnunc]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

ANd if you decide to build a Holiday Inn at the base of Mt. Everest. is this a step towards climbing it? Putting in a walkway along the river has absolutely nothing to do with cleaning it up.

[empireboy]

Oh dear why do some people hate it when they clean up and beautify/modernise things?

Progress in a big city generally comes at the cost of better sanitation, safety, and convenience.

[lvr181]

To misquote Ghost Busters - who you going to sue, the Army. You gotta be kidding!

[Konaboy1]

Oh dear why do some people hate it when they clean up and beautify/modernise things?

Progress in a big city generally comes at the cost of better sanitation, safety, and convenience.

only 2.5 meters high?

Global warming with the higher sea level will soon bury the walkways!

[mikiea]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

good god , close mouth , you make me homo-sidle .

[trogers]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

ANd if you decide to build a Holiday Inn at the base of Mt. Everest. is this a step towards climbing it? Putting in a walkway along the river has absolutely nothing to do with cleaning it up.

Of course not! A clutter of outhouses along both sides of the river do...

[otherstuff1957]

Typical Thai reporting here. The reason that the walkways are needed is not to "beautify" the riverfront, it is to control the annual flooding. However, the English & Journalism majors who write the news here seem to lack any understanding of basic science.

The slums along the riverfront will be gone within a decade or two regardless of this plan. Bangkok is sinking at an average rate of 1.5cm per year. Many of these communities already flood during the rainy season high tides, when the river is at its highest. Either they are removed to build a levee to keep the flood waters out or they will disappear under the flood waters themselves. The only difference between these two options is that if they don't go and the levee is not built, the rest of Bangkok will be flooded along with them.

[trogers]

Typical Thai reporting here. The reason that the walkways are needed is not to "beautify" the riverfront, it is to control the annual flooding. However, the English & Journalism majors who write the news here seem to lack any understanding of basic science.

The slums along the riverfront will be gone within a decade or two regardless of this plan. Bangkok is sinking at an average rate of 1.5cm per year. Many of these communities already flood during the rainy season high tides, when the river is at its highest. Either they are removed to build a levee to keep the flood waters out or they will disappear under the flood waters themselves. The only difference between these two options is that if they don't go and the levee is not built, the rest of Bangkok will be flooded along with them.

Like Taipei?

[wump]

14 billion for 14 kilometers? Isn't that a bit pricey? Like 1 million per metre?

Edited May 15, 2015 by wump

[lvr181]

14 billion for 14 kilometers? Isn't that a bit pricey? Like 1 million per metre?

Many people to be paid

(A little sarcasm here?)

[trogers]

14 billion for 14 kilometers? Isn't that a bit pricey? Like 1 million per metre?

Not pricey when the budget includes relocating slums.

[RT555]

Some Thais are going to get very Rich............LOL

Project will hit more inclines than a roller coaster

Project will substitute lower quality goods than paid for---------> Some Thai are going to get Richer

There will be ficticious relocations and the money will fill their pockets.

Bunch of crooks..........

[cumgranosalum]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

...and how do you consider a concrete walkway a step in the right direction?

[cumgranosalum]

14 billion for 14 kilometers? Isn't that a bit pricey? Like 1 million per metre?

Not pricey when the budget includes relocating slums.

Relocated or cleared??...and where are they relocated? Who qualifies? ...and will the services provided by these "slums" be lost?

Edited May 15, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[cumgranosalum]

Typical Thai reporting here. The reason that the walkways are needed is not to "beautify" the riverfront, it is to control the annual flooding. However, the English & Journalism majors who write the news here seem to lack any understanding of basic science.

The slums along the riverfront will be gone within a decade or two regardless of this plan. Bangkok is sinking at an average rate of 1.5cm per year. Many of these communities already flood during the rainy season high tides, when the river is at its highest. Either they are removed to build a levee to keep the flood waters out or they will disappear under the flood waters themselves. The only difference between these two options is that if they don't go and the levee is not built, the rest of Bangkok will be flooded along with them.

firstly how do you think they will "control flooding"? Flush the water with tonnes of soil waste etc out into the Gulf????

Bkk is on a delta/flood plain and any attempts to control flooding have to take into account the long-term effects of mucking about with the river...this has caused a lot of problems already, most of it is flood-related.

you also need to look at how what you refer to as slums are constructed....the very nature of the buildings allows them to be raised above increasing water levels - permanent concrete structures afford no such luxury.

[trogers]

Oh no, Chao Phraya river would change too much. No more raw sewerage and cooked food to feed those fishes?

Clear water instead of the present murky brown?

This plan would not pass any EIA as the impact to its present state is too much.

ou appear to be suggesting that the walkway would be a solution of the pollution of the river?

The climb up Mount Everest requires the first of many steps. If only we are heading the right direction.

...and how do you consider a concrete walkway a step in the right direction?

Does two things: stop illegal extensions, and provide access.

In fact, I suggested this for those klongs they have cleared.

[BestBitterPhuket]

I strongly support this project. This will make Bkk a better city for all. Yes, some interest groups will be impacted negatively, but it is for the benefit of the vast majority. I really hope they go ahead with the project.

[cumgranosalum]

I strongly support this project. This will make Bkk a better city for all. Yes, some interest groups will be impacted negatively, but it is for the benefit of the vast majority. I really hope they go ahead with the project.

So it's OK for the4 "majority" (your term) just to push existing users/dwellers out and then destroy the environment and course of the river just because in your personal opinion it will make a "better city"???

Hardly democratic or environmentally conscious is it?

[wump]

It's a walkway? Where does the environment come into it?!

[cumgranosalum]

It's a walkway? Where does the environment come into it?!

What?