Spring cleaning in Bangkok
Play
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday launched "spring cleaning" operations in Dusit district after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's verdict against being lenient with street hawkers.
BMA adviser Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangprapai said soldiers, police, municipal and district officials joined forces to clear the area in front of the state-owned Ban Manangkhasila building after the court ruled on January 9 that Dusit District Office’s order annulling the leniency granted to vendors was legitimate.
He said the BMA must comply with the court order and ensure that footpaths from Ban Manangkhasila to Paris Theatre are free of vendors. The BMA had allowed the vendors to continue trading until Friday.
Yesterday officials removed large pieces of trash, demolished construction blocking footpaths, repaired traffic signs, cleared drains, repainted road traffic signals and planted trees.
He said the BMA also gave 201 vendors permission to move to an area near Ambassador Theatre and set up stalls at low rents.
