Don't rush decision on moving

 

Senator Jittipong Viriyaroj, who heads the Senate committee on monitoring constitutional organisations and following up on budgets, said the people involved should spend a month or two carefully considering the pros and cons of shifting to a new site.

 

“If the reason for movement is simply fear of flooding, I do not think that is appropriate. There are prevention measures available, such as building embankments like in the Netherlands and in Venice, Italy,” Jittipong said.

 

He added, however, that he did not think moving to a new location would adversely affect the construction of a new Parliament complex or the budget allocated for the project.

 

Democrat MP Nipon Boonyamanee, who is deputy chairman of the House of Representatives committee on following up on budgets, said he did not think a proposal by a single person would result in changing the nationally important project.

 

“Some of the construction funds have been spent, and this fact should be taken into consideration. We should avoid wasting the money,” he said.

 

First deputy House speaker Charoen Jankomol earlier urged that the site of the new Parliament complex be moved away from the proposed riverside location in the Kiakkai area. He cited concerns about flooding in areas along the Chao Phraya River.

 

Some communities in Kiakkai were also affected by severe flooding in the capital recently.

 

Charoen, an MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, denied his proposal was aimed at terminating a project initiated by former House speaker Chai Chidchob from the rival Bhum Jai Thai Party.

 

A source said the Comptroller General’s Department had been consulted by the Parliament to determine whether the hiring of four contractors for the project’s construction was lawful and whether cancellation of the contract would result in damage to the Parliament.

 

An initial recommendation by the Parliament committee dealing with the construction project called for cancellation of the contract with the four construction companies – Italian-Thai Development, Syntec Construction, Powerline and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, according to the source. A new round of bidding would be held, with the four being allowed to contest again.