Bang Kachao, a green, popular tourism destination in neighbouring Samut Prakan's Phra Pradaeng district, is under threat from a new development project featuring a dyke around the islet that will also serve as a cycling path for tourists.
On the surface, the project, proposed by the Public Works Department and local authorities, may look perfect as it is designed as a flood prevention and tourism promotion measure. It is welcomed by a large number of locals who hope that better facilities, in particular the cycling path on top of the dyke, will make the area more attractive to tourists. They aired their views during a hearing earlier this week. It is believed that construction of the dyke will begin at tambon Bang Krasob, with an initial budget of 140 million baht, and will be extended to cover the whole islet later.
Many Bang Kachao locals may not realise that environmental changes brought about by the development of the dyke and bike path will rob Bang Kachao of its natural attractiveness -- the main factor that attracts and charms tourists in the first place.
Even more worrisome are the undesirable side effects to be caused by the dyke that will replace an old earthen structure. Local conservationists and academics disagree with the idea. Instead of building the new concrete structure, the conservationists suggest that the old earthen dyke can be repaired and readjusted to better accommodate the Bang Kachao ecosystem.
In fact, the starting point at Bang Krasob, dubbed as a village of fireflies that draws both tourists and researchers, is a case in point. The area has already been hit by an unwise development project -- the installation of electricity poles which release powerful light across the area that has driven away most of the insects from the village. Things will get worse with the proposed dyke which, at three metres above mean sea level, will cut off the area from natural tides and, as a result, water will become stagnate and polluted.
At the moment, local authorities dismissed the conservationists' concerns as well as a call for environment impact assessment (EIA) studies for the project, saying that dyke which is designed as a flood prevention measure, is necessary for the area. Such claims are dubious, not only technically but also legally.
According to conservationists, the proposed dyke around the islet is a threat to the Bang Kachao ecosystem that requires changing tides. Water mismanagement will do harm to the system, they say. They also argue that the proposed dyke is not necessary since big floods are no longer an issue for Bang Kachao which has benefited from the well-designed water gates in the Klong Ladpho area. Actually, because of the said water gates, Bang Kachao was safe from the massive flood in 2011.
For legal reasons, the conservationists insist Bang Kachao, dubbed as the lung of Bangkok given its vast greenery, is a protected area under the environmental law. Any construction project that will bring changes to its ecology requires comprehensive EIA studies. Bypassing this crucial process is not acceptable and those involved need to take accountability.
The rising popularity of the area, resulting in a thriving local economy, has been the dilemma in the past years. The money economy may make some locals think they must do anything to embrace tourism in order to gain more cash. Yet, they must not forget that any change that destroys Bang Kachao's identity and uniqueness will eventually kill its charms.
It is necessary that local authorities take into consideration the environmental impact of the project and review it seriously while locals must think of long-term benefits and save Bang Kachao.