Residents at a Din Daeng housing estate in Bangkok yesterday opposed the demolition of an apartment block, which is set to be replaced by a new building under the government's Din Daeng community rehabilitation project.
Several residents who live in the Din Daeng block of flats gathered outside the building to oppose the work yesterday. Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo, Social Development and Human Security Minister, inspected the building and listened to their pleas.
The protest comes after the government decided to raze the apartments and replace them with a new 25-floor edifice with 334 units of 33 sq metres in floorspace each.
Five community representatives asked Pol Gen Adul to allow engineers from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) to examine the structure.
Tatthaya Prapaipet, a community representative, said the project overseen by the National Housing Authority (NHA) does not comply with a cabinet resolution in 2000, which says a public hearing has to be organised to gauge residents' opinions on the changes first.
"The construction of the building may not be necessary as the flat structure remains in good condition. The residents want engineers to see whether the building is really required. If specialists [are needed to] ensure safety of the current flats, only maintenance work should be carried out instead," she said.
Ms Tatthaya said the group wants engineers to examine the building within 15 days. The residents also worry the new apartments may be leased to different tenants, she said.
The Din Daeng apartment building is meant to provide low-income housing according to the 2000 cabinet resolution, said Dusit Yodsri, another representative.
The new rental fee ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 baht for 33 sq m -- which is considered expensive based on daily wages of 300 baht, Mr Dusit said.
The representatives are asking the NHA to reconsider the rental fees of the building and clearly specify the salary of the new residents to ensure the project is serving low-income people as originally intended.
Pol Gen Adul, meanwhile, said he was willing to hear residents' opinions, and agreed the flats should be examined by an engineering team from the EIT as the authorities consider whether to demolish or repair it. He insisted no decision on its fate had been made.
He said representatives of the Din Daeng housing estate will be informed about every step of the project, and the ministry will also review the room space and rental fee issues so they can be tweaked to suit residents' finances, he said.
A public hearing will also be held so residents' views can be incorporated into the scheme, said Pol Gen Adul.