BMA plans legal action against blaze hotel
Bangkok authority plans to seek legal action against the Grand Park Avenue Hotel, the scene of a fire that killed two tourists and injured some 20 others on March 8 for allegedly modified the building without a permit.
BMA deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the BMA’s public works department investigation had found the landlord had asked the Klong Toei district office for permission in 1999 to expand the parking lot, but instead they had modified it to serve as a party hall – which was in violation of the Building Control Act 1979.
Theerachon said he has had the Klong Toei district office director file a complaint at the Thong Lor police station against the hotel’s landlord for the illegal building modification – punishable for 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 had selected additional team members to help with the inspection work.
The city would also find more manpower to help officials whose job it was to check and issue building inspection certification, which must be renewed annually. He said the city would hire engineers to assist the officials in their building inspections.
Theerachon said the city would also get help from some 1,000 private agencies that held building inspection permits from the Interior Ministry.
All district offices were to submit the inspection results within 30 days, so the information could be presented to the BMA Governor, he added.
