Group eyes legal action over promenade plan

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.