Conservation to the fore in Chiang Mai

THE four-square-kilometres within the old city moat in Chiang Mai’s Muang district is undergoing a conservation drive – and subject to new regulations – as the municipality pushes to become a World Heritage Site.

Tatsanai Buranupakorn, mayor of Nakhon Chiang Mai, said a municipal regulation had been passed to ensure all new buildings in the old city area adhere to three characteristics: their height must not exceed 12 metres; they must be of Lanna style; and their exteriors must be painted white, beige or brown.

The municipality has collaborated on this with the Lanna Architect Committee and paint-makers, which are providing paint to renovate a row of 10 shophouses near the Three Kings Monument and Klang Wiang intersection. 

Student volunteers have been carrying out the renovation, which began in September and is slated for completion this month. 

The shophouses will serve as a model of what new buildings in the inner-city should look like, and shop owners are pleased with the renovation work so far, Tatsanai said. 

The mayor said there were 7,000 to 8,000 households in the old city, but the municipality could not force people to follow the new municipal rule, which had no retroactive effect. They would have to try to persuade them instead, in order to avoid conflict, he said. 

The municipality is, however, also considering adding a requirement for inner-city residents to repaint their houses every five years to the same standard, he said, stressing that this is just an idea pending further discussion with residents.

Moreover, the municipality has a policy to reduce energy consumed by public transport – by using electric buses widely next year.

The administration has spent an initial Bt24 million on the purchase of 12 such buses to run in the old city area, Tatsanai said. 

Bicycle use will also be promoted as part of this policy, hence the many cycle-parking points, he added.

The municipality hopes that the transformation and energy-saving policy will gain good feedback from the World Heritage Site arm of Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

The municipality also has a policy that, in the near future, large tour buses will not be allowed in the old city as they cause traffic problems, the mayor said.

Currently, the idea is being discussed and government officials have to talk with travel agencies on whether it is possible for tour buses to park at prepared lots and tourists to be carried by municipal vehicles into the old city area, he explained.

The mayor said this would need collaboration between the city’s police traffic division, its guide association and Tourism Business Association.

The city has also implemented a policy to get rid of overhead power lines by burying them underground. 

So far, Bt100 million has been spent doing that at Tha Phae and Chang Klan roads, with Prapokklao Road the next thoroughfare to be tackled, he said. 

The old city area within the ancient moat contains many historic places of significance, including Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Man.

The old city used to be the inner-court known as Wiang Kaew, where Chiang Mai royals and its governor resided.

It is also where the Lanna Kingdom’s first king, King Mangrai, passed away.

If it does obtain World Heritage Site status, the city will have to adhere to Unesco’s requirements and continuously maintain the area properly, or it could risk losing its accreditation.