Relocation plans opposed | Bangkok Post: learning

Easy English news

The Rattanakosin Island landscape improvement committee and the local residents and worshippers have very different ideas on the beauty of a popular shrine.

People pay respect to the Hindu god Vishnu at the shrine built on a traffic island on Siripong Road beside Wat Suthat Thepphawararam temple in Bangkok yesterday. APICHART JINAKUL

Relocation plans opposed

To the committee in charge of the Rattanakosin Island landscape improvement scheme, it is time for the God Vishnu shrine to be moved to another place.

The shrine, a gift from the Thai-Indian Chamber of Commerce to City Hall in 1982, is not ‘‘in harmony’’ with other structures in the area, committee members say. It does not fit with their plans to beautify the area which they want to nominate as a world heritage site.

Worshippers and nearby residents, however, have decried the relocation plan.

‘‘I see no reason to remove the shrine. The structure does not disturb the city’s scenery,’’ said Luck Horwatanakul, a 38-year-old worshipper.

‘‘On the contrary, the shrine helps make the area look more attractive.’’

The shrine had been there for a long time and was in a very convenient location, she said.

Visitors and locals told the Bangkok Post they did not think the shrine had a negative effect on the landscape. Moreover, they had no ideas as to where the 15 x 10 square metre marble statue should be moved to.

Flower seller Jongkulnee Klaipong, 53, who works nearby, said she had heard talk of relocation for several years, but there had been no clear policy on the issue.

‘‘Different governors have had different points of view,’’ she said.

‘‘I don’t think the shrine spoils the city view.

‘‘What should be removed from this area is the tourism promotion booth in front of the Giant Swing. It is more of an eyesore than the shrine.’’

The BMA on Monday said it had no objection to the shrine relocation, but was concerned about public opposition, especially from Lord Vishnu worshippers.

To find the best solution, officials would discuss the issue with Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who heads the Rattanakosin committee, before going ahead with any move.

Adapted from a story in by Apinya Wipatayotin and Supoj Wancharoen in today's Bangkok Post.

relocation – the process of moving someone or something to a new place การย้ายที่ใหม่
oppose – to disagree with or not approve of a plan or policy คัดค้าน
in charge of – to be in control of an activity and to check that everything is being done correctly  ดูแล ควบคุม
landscape –  an area of land that is beautiful to look at or that has a particular type of appearance ภูมิประเทศ,  ภูมิทัศน์
improvement – when something gets better or when you make it better การปรับปรุง, การทำให้ดีขึ้น
scheme – a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people  แผนการ โครงการ
shrine – a place for worship which is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object; a special place in which you remember and praise someone who has died, especially someone famous สถานที่บูชา หรือ หลุมศพ
chamber of commerce – a group of local business people who work together to help business and trade in a particular town หอการค้า
City Hall – the city government; the council members and officials who manage a city; Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) สถานที่ราชการส่วนท้องถิ่น, กรุงเทพมหานคร
harmony – a pleasing combination of related things  การประสานกัน    
structure – something large such as a building or a bridge that is built from different parts โครงสร้าง
fit – to agree with, match or be suitable for something; to make something do this เหมาะ,เหมาะสม,สมควร,คู่ควร,สอดคล้อง
nominate – to formally propose or suggest something เสนอ
world heritage site – a place, building, structure, etc. that has been determined by the UN to be of great historical or culture value and is given a special protected status โบราณสถานที่เป็นมรดกโลกworshipper
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
decry – to strongly criticise somebody/something, especially publicly วิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างรุนแรง
disturb – to move or change something from its usual position, arrangement, condition or shape รบกวน
scenery – the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, when you are thinking about them being attractive to look at ทิวทัศน์, ทัศนียภาพ
on the contrary – opposite; completely different or opposed to something else ในทางตรงกันข้าม
attractive – pleasant to look at มีเสน่ห์ดึงดูด
convenient – easy to do or use, or not causing problems or difficulties สะดวก
locals – people who live in a nearby area
negative – bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
marble – a type of hard stone that is usually white and often has coloured lines in it. It can be polished and is used in building and for making statues, etc หินอ่อน
statue –image that is made of stone, wood, metal, etc. รูปปั้น
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
issue – a problem that needs to be considered ประเด็น
spoil – to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest or beauty of something ทำให้เสีย
promotion – the act of encouraging or supporting something การสนับสนุน
booth – a small, usually temporary structure, where you can buy things, get information or watch something แผงลอย,ห้องเล็ก, บูธ
eyesore – something that is ugly or unpleasant to look at สิ่งที่ไม่สวยงาม (ตึก, สถานที่)
objection – a statement that shows that you disagree with a plan, or a reason for your disagreement  การแถลงการคัดค้าน
concerned – worried about something   มีความกังวล
solution – a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation  วิธีแก้ปัญหา

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.