THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

River project opposed at public hearing

River project opposed at public hearing

ACADEMICS and community representatives have voiced opposition to the Bt14-billion Chao Phraya River development project, citing the lack of clear objectives and insufficient data on its social benefits.

King Mongkut Institute of Technology’s Lat Krabang campus and Khon Kaen University yesterday jointly held the first public hearing for an environmental impact assessment for the project.
Sakul Horwanotayan, a manager for the project, told the session attended by more than 500 people that the project would cover 57 kilometres along the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, but only 14km would be developed in the first phrase to revitalise the country’s most important river.
Sakul said the project would benefit Bangkok residents and tourists, who would be able to enjoy scenic views of the great river with more public parks and walking and bicycle lanes created. The riverbank is facing problems from water pollution and other pollutants, Sakul said.
Environmental expert Wanpen Virojkoot said a working group was conducting a study on the projects’ impact on residents, such as physical, biological and noise, as well as its impact on historic sites along the riverbank.
Antikan Sawatsri, a spokesperson for the project, said there had been consultations with community leaders and other representatives of riverbank communities.
But Yosphol Boonsom, a coordinator of Friends of the River, said more time was needed to evaluate the pros and cons of the project since it was not possible to study its potential impacts within the seven months given by the authorities.
A representative from the Bangkok Metropolitan Admini-stration said the project’s design was still being devised as studies on its impact were yet to be completed.
Participants at the hearing suggested authorities should focus on more urgent projects.
 
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