Group eyes legal action over Chao Phraya promenade plan

[webfact]

Group eyes legal action over promenade plan
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP STRESSES NEED FOR EIA STUDY

BANGKOK: -- THE STOP Global Warming Association (SGWA) is threatening to lodge a complaint with the Central Administrative Court if the construction of the so-called Chao Phraya Riverside Promenade goes ahead without any environmental impact assessment.

"Building such a structure without a proper EIA study is a violation of law. If they go ahead, I will approach the administrative court," SGWA president Srisuwan Janya said yesterday.

He was speaking after Kasemsun Chinnavaso, secretary-general of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), said the riverside promenade project would not require an EIA.

Srisuwan responded: "It is clearly stated in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announcement that a structure on the main waterway and a structure larger than 10,000 square metres needs to have an EIA."

Decharat Sukkamnerd, a Kasetsart University lecturer, echoed Srisuwan's remarks, stating that there was no academic study to support the ONEP claim.

He said that if the ONEP allowed the riverside promenade to come up without an EIA, it would mean that the ONEP intentionally ignored the impact on the river's ecology.

"I oppose the ONEP's point of view. I insist that the riverside promenade project needs an EIA study.

"There is still no answer from the government on the impact on water flow if such a large structure is built over the river," Decharat said.

"There are also no answers on how to get rid of the rubbish trapped under the promenade and also how to manage the ecological destruction from the 'dead zone' of the river, which will be permanently covered under the walkway," he said.

Earlier, the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA) also asked the government to reconsider the Bt14-billion Chao Phraya River project, as it would not be as useful as previously thought.

AREA suggested building a six-lane road along both sides of the Chao Phraya instead.

Sopon Pornchokchai, president of AREA, reiterated yesterday that public parks should be smaller so that they can fit into communities more easily. Making a large park in the heart of the city, like Lumpini Park, is a waste as it gets only 8,500 visits a day, while Suan Luang Rama 9 Park records only 800 visitors a day and Chatuchak Park receives only 3,500 a day.

In addition, he suggested that large buildings should be allowed to increase the maximum floor-area ratio to 15-20:1 from 10:1 currently in exchange for a larger green area surrounding the buildings.

Moreover, Sopon said the government should focus more on promoting smart buildings to save energy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Group-eyes-legal-action-over-promenade-plan-30262163.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-12

[Thian]

funny that now suddenly somebody cares for the river or environment.

Moreover, Sopon said the government should focus more on promoting smart buildings to save energy.

I agree 100%, especially buildings who will be airconditioned 24 hrs or daily should have good isolation and double glass windows, by law.

[ChrisY1]

Seems as though environment studies are likely now regarded as simply "red tape" among the new rulers!

[rametindallas]

Bangkok, among the world's largest cities, has one to the smallest people-to-green-space ratios of them all. Now is a 'last chance' opportunity to claim the river front for all citizens and visitors to share the openness and (relatively) fresher air along the river front and it is being stopped by commercial interests and nominees for commercial interest who want the river front to be exclusively commercial and for profit. The chutzpah of suggesting another polluting, six-lane, gridlocked avenue to line both sides of the river is mind boggling. Who would even want open a nice riverside restaurant, hotel, or tourist related business with a polluting, six lane, gridlocked avenue blocking access to the river?). Special Interest are definitely hard at work here.

For the sanity of the citizenry, there needs to be spaces open to everyone where one can escape the madness of living in a ant-hill of humanity. Even if one doesn't have opportunity to visit, just knowing that it exists and could be visited is comforting. I'm pulling for the city and its citizens on this project.

BTW, how difficult would it be for the city to approve its own Environmental Impact Assessment?

p.s. The city did a smaller version of this project (nearly a kilometer of boardwalk along the river with benches and trash cans) a dozen years ago and it a really nice, clean, safe way to view the river and the boat/barge traffic on the river plus, you can now walk behind all those private properties that once blocked access to the river. If anyone has a chance to visit the Chao Praya waterfront at Ft. Phra Sumen in Bang Lampu (When Thanon Phra Sumen crosses Chakrapongse Road, just NE of the head of Khao San Road, its name changes to Phra Atit when it makes a 90% left at the fort) they can see the benefits of such a waterfront development. There are rare, clean, public restrooms, a large 'sala' where I used to go see magic shows and hear music concerts.

I can't see how the presence of that walkway or the proposed one can possibly hurt the environment. I think that the presence of more people, being able to view the condition of the river, will insure that some people will complain to get it cleaner and that's good for the environment.

re: the claim by the president of AREA: The city should sponsor free music concerts at Lumpini Park on Saturdays to encourage the people to get out in the park; it can only help their sanity: Just looking at nature can help your brain work better, study finds http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/26/viewing-nature-can-help-your-brain-work-better-study-finds/

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Edited June 12, 2015 by rametindallas

[rametindallas]

Seems as though environment studies are likely now regarded as simply "red tape" among the new rulers!

Seems as though environment studies are likely now regarded as simply "red tape non-existent" among the new rulers!

There, Fixed That For You.

[bangkokfrog]

It has got to happen as our PM has already announced it as a "certainty". Another use for Section 44?

Edited June 12, 2015 by bangkokfrog

[halloween]

How is this a concern of the Stop Global Warming mob?

[rametindallas]

How is this a concern of the Stop Global Warming mob?

The SGWA attracts two kinds of people: joiners and protesters. Since this is not 1970 they don't have as much to join-together-and-protest about so they take what they can get. At least it's free publicity for the WGWA; two big articles in one week! They may even be a 'front' to aid the powers-that-be to control the riverfront. You'd think with their name they would be supporting a green belt/walkway/bike way along the river available to.rich and poor equally.

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