Developer vows to boost safety after mishaps

Asian Property Development yesterday vowed to boost safety measures at one of its residential projects after 10-kilogram steel sections repeatedly fell on nearby homes, causing some property damage but no casualties.
“The storm was more severe than expected,” said Marote Vananan, chief commercial officer. “We will cooperate with the district to make things right until the district will allow us to resume construction work.”
Lak Si District Office had ordered the developer to suspend construction of the condominium near Soi Chinnaket and Chaiyakiat Soi 1 in northern Bangkok.
Marote blamed strong winds on November 11 for the accident.
The protection system of the Aspire Ngamwongwan project was in full compliance with legal requirements and in some areas above requirements, he said.
The company was ready to take responsibility for everything caused by the mishap and to do anything to prevent another one in the future, he added.
Suwit Saengsaneh, assistant director of Lak Si District Office, said his office received a complaint from villagers living on Chaiyakiat Soi 1 that two steel objects weighing 10 kilograms each and two metres long had crashed on their houses last Sunday.
“We found that many houses in Ngarmwongwan Soi 39 and located close to the condominium, which is now being constructed, were damaged by debris from the construction including spikes and steel objects weighing 10 kilograms each and two metres long. They have been affected by these objects every day,” he said.
But the last time, the developer told the office that the falling of debris into nearby residential neighbourhoods might have been caused by strong winds.
The office has asked the project engineer about the problem and was informed that work followed proper standards. The engineer also said the developer would compensate those affected by the construction.
“We ordered the developer to stop building this condominium. If the developer continues building this condominium, we will fine them on a daily basis,” Suwit said.
The office had earlier ordered the developer to stop building this condominium but they preferred to pay the fine and continue construction.
The Central Administrative Court has also issued a stay on construction of this condominium except on weekdays from 8pm-5pm.
Suwit said he wants local villagers and the developer to negotiate with each other about the condominium project. The Lak Si District Office will act as the mediator.
“I was told that the developer has prepared a lawyer to fight the local people in court but I think local people still have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the developer,” he added.