From the Internet version of The Bangkok Post

Call to axe two megaprojects
Chiang Mai schemes begun by Thaksin govt

SUBIN KHUENKAEW

Chiang Mai _ A local pressure group yesterday stepped up its call for the cancellation of two megaprojects initiated by the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra administration, prior to Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham's visit to the northern province on Friday. The Hak Chiang Mai network was taking aim at the long-delayed construction of two underpasses, worth 511 million baht, across the Chiang Mai-Lampang superhighway and the two-billion-baht Elephant Park development scheme.

These 'Underpass construction projects have been going on for years , causing much traffic difficulties....another example of specific person[s] lining their pockets at the expense of the people of the area.

Get this for the Highway construction  =  511 Million Baht,  used by probably more than a million people in a years time as this is the major highway thru the area......   and for 200 elephants,,,2 Billion Baht  .... go figure..


Network leader Chalermpol Saempetch said construction of the underpasses has been abandoned for about a year now. And this has worsened the already horrendous traffic situation in Chiang Mai city, he added.


Jirathep Co, which won the contracts in 2003 to build the underpasses, was said to be cash-strapped, he said.


Under the contracts, the company was required to complete the underpasses at Khuangsing and Sarn Dek intersections in 900 days.


The company had not completed the work when the contracts expired on April 10 last year.


The contracts were extended by another month, but the firm still could not finish the job and was forced to pay a fine of 153,000 baht per day.

Lets figure.... Expired April 10th last year
approx 400 days have gone by
400 days X's 153,000 baht per day = about 61 + Million baht....

For that amount of money maybe we can create a Soi Dog Park ??


According to Mr Chalermpol, a similar underpass leading to San Khamphaeng district had been completed.


''The [previous] government went ahead with the projects without asking the local people. It was the work of a power-crazed administration,'' he said.


A source at Chiang Mai's highways agency said the Highways Department was considering terminating the contracts with Jirathep Co.


The department would assign its bridge construction units to clear the construction site so as to ease traffic congestion pending the selection of a new contractor, said the source.


Mr Chalermpol said his network was particularly concerned about the Elephant Park project in Hang Dong district.


He said the residents of tambons Nong Kwai and Mae Hia were strongly opposed to the scheme which they believed posed a threat to their livelihood.


The locals feared that keeping elephants at the park would deplete water sources in the area leading to severe shortages in the dry season.


''Water resources in the area are scarce as it is. The Night Safari [theme park]is currently hit by drought,'' said one local resident. ''If herds of elephants are to live here, then the local ecosystem and the villagers' livelihood will be at risk.''


The Elephant Park, which is part of the Chiang Mai Night Safari, is to house 200 elephants. There are also allegations that the project site is located in a forest reserve which is part of the Doi Suthep-Doi Pui national park.


Mr Chalermpol said construction of the Elephant Park had already begun. Trees were cut down and deep holes were dug. All building activities were carried out at night, he added.


''We were told by officials it was a fire break. What kind of fire break is that? Villagers should get to see what was going on if there was nothing to hide,'' he said.


The network would present its side of the story to Mr Paiboon when he visits Chiang Mai from May 11-13.


Srirat Tothiam, a resident of tambon Mae Hia, said the villagers would go and inspect the area to see if the workers were really building a ''fire break''.


She said the locals were not afraid of a possible confrontation with the authorities.


Lakhana Srihong, a member of Chiang Mai's Rak Pa group, said the workers had told the villagers that they were building a wall for the Elephant Park.


She said the villagers would fight against the project and lobby the National Legislative Assembly to scrap all the Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) schemes.


Dasta was a public organisation set up by the Thaksin administration to manage tourist spots, including the Chiang Mai Night Safari park and Koh Chang island off Trat province.



Just another example of "for the good of a few, at the expense of the many" which has become inheirent in The Thai Phsyce