Chadchart plots campaign to plant 1 million trees

Chadchart plots campaign to plant 1 million trees

Chadchart: Seeking govt support
Chadchart: Seeking govt support

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has targeted to see at least a million trees planted in the city during his four-year tenure while also seeking government support to tackle a series of challenging issues facing City Hall.

Mr Chadchart yesterday presided over a tree-planting event to honour Her Majesty the Queen on her birthday anniversary at the Mahakan Fort in Phra Nakhon district.

A similar activity got underway at public parks across the city.

Mr Chadchart said the tree-planting event was part of a practical approach to expanding the green areas of the capital.

His plan was for every one of the city's 50 districts to plant 100 trees each Sunday during his term as governor. That would see at least a million added within four years.

The newly elected governor said a study was carried out to specify the species of trees that are best suited to certain areas of the city.

Every tree planted will be tracked by a Global Positioning System (GPS) which monitors its growth. "The trees shouldn't be forgotten after their roots take to the ground," he said.

Mr Chadchart added it would be meaningless for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to grow their own seedlings for the one million plants. People and the private sector should be actively encouraged to participate in the campaign.

A community enterprise in the Nong Chok area of Min Buri district could be hired to grow the seedlings, each costing about 20 baht, and supply them to the BMA. The enterprise would earn income to help stimulate the economy, the governor said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chadchart met with Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda at an alms-offering rite for monks held to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's birthday anniversary at Sanam Luang yesterday morning.

Gen Anupong, one of the top brass who engineered the May 22, 2014 coup which toppled the Pheu Thai Party-led administration, when Mr Chadchart served as transport minister, is technically the governor's direct supervisor since the BMA works under the Interior Ministry.

Mr Chadchart said he was scheduled to formally meet Gen Anupong this coming Monday to discuss the Green Line electric train concession dispute, the BMA's current debt issues, and the BMA's plan to raise funds by collecting building and land tax, which has been diverted to the national coffers.

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