Professors renew push for new draft land tax | Bangkok Post: business

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Professors renew push for new draft land tax

Levy on dry areas would go to flooded

Academics propose using a land and building tax to compensate those residents that had to endure prolonged suffering during the floods.

As fears of another great flood are foremost in Thai minds, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority started a big cleaning project for the drain pipeline network across the capital yesterday. Academics want the draft land tax to compensate those victims of flooding that had to suffer disproportionately so that others kept dry.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Thailand Development and Research Institute, Duangmanee Laovakul, a lecturer from Thammasat University, pitched the idea that the draft law be applied in situations where some places have to sacrifice for the majority, such as with the floods when the lower-income suburbs remained submerged for months while inner Bangkok kept dry.

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About the author

Writer: Wichit Chantanusornsiri and Soonya Vanichkorn

Your comments

  • Discussion 1 : 04/02/2012 at 08:25 PM1

    My girlfriend has properties in numerous provinces, almost all of which have seen serious flooding at one time or another in the last few years.

    None of our properties have ever had a problem, despite serious problems nearby, because drainage and elevation compared to adjoining areas is something we look at before she buys.

    Now they try to justify a land tax by saying her properties should be taxed to subsidize the people who don't understand that water goes downhill??????

    Eliminate the corruption in government and there would be no need for more taxes.

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