FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Canal-side communities to be relocated in Bt4-billion housing project

Canal-side communities to be relocated in Bt4-billion housing project

The Cabinet approved a budget of Bt4 billion for two projects to build accommodation for canal-side communities and homeless people, government spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Bangkok’s 1,161 canals have been encroached upon by 23,500 households, or 100,000 people, since 2011, according to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. The ministry will undertake the projects at two pilot zones where drainage has been badly affected – Klong Lat Phrao and Klong Premprachakorn – from where a total of 11,004 households will be relocated.
Sansern said the budget would be split between a fund for development of infrastructure (Bt880 million), a housing loan scheme for some 10,000 households (Bt2.2 billion), rent allowance at Bt80,000 per household during the wait for new homes to be constructed, and a Bt100-million fund for a community plan survey and other related procedures.
The Cabinet also approved the ministry’s proposal for a two-year (2016-2017) life-development project for homeless people. Bangkok’s two shelters can accommodate just 80 of its 1,093 registered homeless people while Chiang Mai’s shelter has room for just 16 of the 296 homeless people registered in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The ministry is seeking to build housing for them – possibly a Bt97.6-million flats project – and provide another Bt15-million budget to help those with some savings to secure low-cost housing units, he added.
RELATED
nationthailand