Buildings won't be torn down, ministry confirms
ANCHALEE KONGRUT
Wallop: Issued
policy statement |
The Din Daeng flats will not be demolished, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security confirmed yesterday, ending a years-long protest by residents of the 40-year-old flats for low- income earners. Permanent secretary Wallop Ploytubtim signed a statement giving an assurance the flats would not be dismantled after residents threatened to block roads in the Din Daeng area.
Vehicles going from Vibhavadi road to the area suffered minor interruption yesterday when about 50 residents of the flats blocked one traffic lane at Mit Maitri-Din Daeng junction.
They disbanded in the late afternoon after Mr Wallop sent the statement confirming the ministry's policy.
Mr Wallop said the ministry will not demolish the flats and will allocate budget funds for the restoration of the dilapidated buildings.
The protesters were tenants of the Din Daeng flats who oppose the National Housing Authority's plan to demolish some of the run-down buildings and develop a commercial complex and landscape the area.
The NHA, which is under the ministry, planned to include a residential area where long-time tenants could stay, but the rents would have been increased.
Rents currently range from 300 to 1,500 baht a month.
The housing authority also offered 260,000 baht compensation for those wanting to shift elsewhere.
The NHA policy enraged many tenants, who organised several protests against the plan over the past few years.
The plan to landscape the area reached its peak in the year 2000 during the government of then prime minister Chuan Leekpai.
During the Thaksin Shinawatra government the NHA hired the A-7 consultancy firm to draw up a development plan for the Din Daeng Housing Estate, which covers more than 100 rai in the heart of the city.
The NHA subsequently commissioned the Asian Institute of Technology to assess the safety of the buildings.
The AIT suggested many options, including the demolition of blocks of flats that were considered unsafe. The NHA used the AIT's recommendations to support its controversial demolition plans.
However, the Council of Engineers later suggested that the structures were fixable and the NHA's opponents have been using the engineers' opinion to back their protest.
Yesterday's promise from Mr Wallop was welcomed by the disgruntled tenants.
''I am relieved,'' said Tattaya Prakaipetch, 40, a tenant. ''This is the first time that the ministry has offered a clear policy and a signed statement.
''However we will take action again if the ministry goes back on its decision,'' said Mr Tattaya, who led yesterday's protest
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