Hotel made unlawful changes, BMA says
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The Bangkok Metropolitan Admi-nistration (BMA) has found the owners of the Grand Park Avenue Hotel - hit by a fire that killed two tourists and injured some 20 others on the night of March 8 - illegally modified the building.
BMA deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said an investigation by the BMA’s public works department found the landlord had asked the Klong Toei district office for permission in 1999 to expand the parking lot, but instead they modified it to serve as a party hall. This was in violation of the Building Control Act 1979.
Theerachon said he had got the Klong Toei district office director to file a complaint at Thong Lor police station against the hotel landlord for an illegal building modification – a crime punishable by up to three months in jail and/or Bt60,000 in fines.
Theerachon also said an order was signed yesterday for 50 BMA teams to begin inspecting building safety measures in 50 districts. The project should start this week after the BMA public works department chief selects extra team members to help with the inspection work.
The city would also find more people to help officials who have the job of checking and issuing building inspection certificates, which must be renewed annually. He said the city would hire engineers to assist officials with building inspections.
The city would also get help from some 1,000 private agencies that have building inspection permits from the Interior Ministry.
All district offices would have to submit their inspection results within 30 days, so the information could be presented to the BMA Governor, he said.
