The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has insisted that communities encroaching on public land intended for the controversial Chao Phraya riverside promenade project must move out as construction is set to begin next year.
BMA officials met communities on both sides of the Chao Phraya on Monday to explain measures to provide financial aid to help community residents move out.
The promenade project is to be built on a 7km stretch of each side of the river between the Rama VII to Pin Klao bridges.
Sakchai Boonma, chief of a land ownership management division under the BMA's Public Works Department, told the gathering that under the law, communities encroaching on public land were not entitled to financial aid.
However, the BMA asked the cabinet to approve a budget to help with their relocation, though community residents cannot demand large amounts.
The aid is different from expropriation compensation because the community residents have illegally encroached upon public land, Mr Sakchai said.
A BMA source said that initially a total of 12 communities with 309 families have been affected by the construction project. The source added the cabinet had approved a budget of about 495 million baht to help with their relocation.
Thaiwuth Khankaew, chief of the design division under the BMA's Public Works Department, said King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) has handed over a feasibility study and a construction design to the BMA.
The BMA is now working with other agencies such as the Marine Department to adjust the design to ensure it will not affect boat navigation, Mr Thaiwauth said.
The design should be finalised this month and the project submitted for cabinet approval next month, he said.
City Hall has vowed to tear down all homes like these, said to be encroaching on state land and thus blocking the construction of a controversial riverside promenade.
Construction will begin on the Thon Buri side next year as fewer people there are affected by the project. The construction cost is initially estimated at about five billion baht, Mr Thaiwuth said.
Meanwhile, project opponents said they were collecting signatures to launch a petition against KMITL.
KMITL is violating the Architects Act by handling the project's design, architect Duangrit Bunnag told a recent seminar.
The law stipulates that individuals or companies must hold a licence, approved by the Architects Council of Thailand (Act), to be allowed to design buildings or structures.
However, KMITL does not have any licence. "They are working illegally," Mr Duangrit said, adding that Act had called for several meetings on the matter.
Act chairman Jedkhamchorn Phromyothi said the council lodged a petition a few months ago with the Ministry of Interior regarding KMITL's lack of a proper licence.
The Council of State has been asked to review the matter. However, it could take a long time before any ruling is made, Mr Jedkhamchorn said.
He added his role as Act chairman was to protect licensed architects and safeguard the Architects Act. Therefore, he hopes the Council of State will rule in their favour.
However, he added that if KMITL is given permission to design the promenade project, Act will need to recognise the decision.
"Now is the time to act. I hope the public will raise its voice against the Chao Phraya River project loud enough for the Council of State to hear."