Residents of a Bangkok condominium on Monday filed a lawsuit against city governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and two subordinates, accusing them of failing to control a Shinawatra Tower 4 construction project that allegedly violates building regulations.
The suit was filed with the Administrative Court by Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya and 36 residents of the 20-year-old Sailom condo in Phahon Yothin Soi 8.
Mr Srisuwan said the construction of the nearby 24-storey office tower owned by SC Asset Corp Plc had aggrieved Sailom dwellers and led to cracks and other damage to their building since work begun late last year.
Mr Srisuwan said the construction lasted from 6am to 10pm, which exceeded legal time limits and created air and noise pollution in excess of permissible levels.
The residents and juristic persons of the condominium had negotiated with the contractors and project owner to fix the problems and compensate them for damage. But Mr Srisuwan alleged the situation remained unresolved and that the company was stalling.
The veteran social activist said complaints had been filed with Phaya Thai district office chief Woraset Prapatsutanon, Public Works Department director Pattarut Tantranon and MR Sukhumbhand. However, the three had ignored the plaintiffs' dilemma, Mr Srisuwan alleged.
The lawsuit asks the court to punish the three officials for their alleged negligence and order them to strictly regulate the project to ensure legal compliance. It asks the court to order the project owner to suspend construction until this case is finalised and pay the plaintiffs 20 million baht in compensation.
Patcharin Harnwongburana, a juristic person at Sailom condominium, said the seven-storey building had 150 rooms and residents had lived happily until after the construction of Shinawatra Tower 4 began. She said many residents began to fall ill while others suffering from allergies worsened.