Planners under fire over Chao Phraya promenade scheme

Planners under fire over Chao Phraya promenade scheme

Civic advocates and residents in affected communities complain that local input is being ignored

Residents of Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn recently declared they didn't want the riverside promenade in front of their community at an information session held by design team. (Photo courtesy of the Chao Phraya for All project)
Residents of Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn recently declared they didn't want the riverside promenade in front of their community at an information session held by design team. (Photo courtesy of the Chao Phraya for All project)

The Chao Phraya for All project recently came under fire after its consultant team was accused of failing to produce a design plan in accordance with a mutual agreement derived from the information sessions.

Residents of the Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn and Bang Or communities, which will be affected by the project, have expressed serious misgivings about the draft design plan presented at a seminar last month.

They slammed the team over the impracticality of the plan and vowed to petition authorities to put the project on hold.

Under an agreement between locals and the authorities, no promenade was to be built in their communities but authorities have failed to keep their word.

King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and Khon Kaen University (KKU) were hired by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), with a 120-million-baht budget, to conduct a feasibility study for the 54km promenade along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The pilot segment is to stretch 7km on both sides of the river between the Rama VII and Pink Lao bridges.

The project was initiated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who hoped it would serve as a recreational area for outdoor activities for pedestrians and cyclists as well as a flood barrier to prevent water overflowing into houses near the river banks in the rainy season.

The government's plan doesn't meet the demands of locals, noted Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch who represents the Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn community in Dusit district.

A plan for his community was produced and presented by the design team at a seminar entitled "City on the Move", which aimed to present the draft design plans to the public.

Mr Sorathep was speaking at a meeting held at Thammasat University's Tha Phra Chan campus on Aug 31, to study the negative impacts of the project on nearby communities including those near the Bang Lamphu area, Siriraj Hospital, and Thammasat University.

A video shown at the seminar promoting the plan showed a promenade stretching 300 metres in front of Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn, Mr Sorathep said. But the landscape improvement plan was not mentioned.

"That's cheating. We do not need a promenade," Mr Sorathop said.

Held by a network of civic advocates, the seminar was attended by a number of community residents, academics, activists and people interested in the scheme.

However, representatives from the KMITL failed to attend.

Mr Sorathep said residents want authorities to improve the landscape within the community and connect existing footpaths to the Chao Phraya River, making it convenient for pedestrians and cyclists. Surveyors who have examined the community have agreed with this idea.

Instead, the plan involves a single wide lane stretching the entire length of the pilot project along both banks, he said.

"We spoke to surveyors about what we want for our community. They seemed to understand our needs. Our community has several ways to get to the temple, which is the centre of the community but it is not linked to the river. So we do not need a promenade. We really want something we can benefit from," Mr Sorathep said.

The locals agreed to a budget which will be allocated by the government to be spent on landscape and walkway improvements and housing repair programmes, he said, adding that more than 30 houses in the community are located in an area prone to flooding.

Pramand Mooktaree, a resident of the Bang Or community who also attended the session held by the design team also disagreed with the design plan.

Bang Or residents demanded authorities improve and repair the footpaths in the community, build a riverside pavilion, and create a recreational area and an exhibition depicting the community's long and colourful history, he said adding the Muslim community traces its roots to the Ayutthaya Period.

Residents plan to petition authorities to put the project on hold, he added.

Meanwhile, independent academic Paranee Sawasdirak claimed the design plan originally given to locals was different from the one shown to members of the public at the seminar.

She criticised authorities for setting up too many working groups to handle the project which she thought would lead to confusion, saying it is still unclear who is responsible for the plan.

She referred to a meeting on May 4 where BMA officials met others from the Ministry of the Interior to talk about issues related to the project, including criteria for compensation to be given to locals who will be affected by the construction.

Ms Paranee questioned how the whole process had been planned since local residents have been offered compensation but their demands have not been met.

Ms Paranee said she is concerned about a lack of public input, saying many people will be affected by the construction and they should be properly informed of its impact and be allowed to voice their concerns.

She demanded authorities halt the controversial riverside promenade and promote more local involvement.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Thammasat University's vice-rector, said the project needs public involvement to make it more socially and environmentally sustainable.

He has demanded that authorities provide all the project's details to local residents and ensure they fully understand what is involved in regards to the construction including the Terms of Reference.

"The locals might have something to say. We all have the right to make up our own minds, to say what we think and to share our ideas with other people," Mr Prinya said.

He has called on authorities to be sincere in solving the problems, saying the public hearing the design team conducted was not the solution to the problems but was instead seen as just a trick.

He said he supports the idea of a community-based restoration programme which benefits local residents.

A source close to the BMA, who did not want to be named, said the design team will come up with several options for authorities including the wide-lane promenade that will stretch along both banks of the pilot project.

The source admitted that the Chao Phraya promenade plan is a high-impact one while the locals' plan would take time to implement, adding that people who oppose the plan are those who would not benefit from the project.

Peerapong Saicheau said the information opponents were given was wrong.

Responding to residents' complaints, Assoc Prof Antika Sawatsri, spokesperson for the project team, said there was a technical problem with regard to the video presentation shown at the seminar.

Referring to the "City on the Move" seminar held on Aug 30 she argued the riverside promenade presentation was only an overall picture of the project, and that it wasn't a specific design plan for the two communities.

Plans for Wat Thewarat Kunchorn Worawiharn Community, Mitr Kam 1 Community and See Kram Community have not yet been completed, according to the spokesperson.

The design team is working on several plans and is set to submit the most suitable option to the BMA for consideration on Sept 26, she said.

Assoc Prof Antika said the team has worked closely with representatives from a consultancy firm and local historical experts in studying the residents' communities.

The promenade will be seven to 10 metres wide and 2.80 metres high and will include recreational areas.

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