Fine and compensation demanded from ITD for roadside tree cutbacks

ฺBANGKOK, March 7 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) fines Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) 28,000 baht for cutting back roadside trees on Phahon Yothin Road without permission and demands the company pay 170,000 baht in compensation for 14 damaged trees in seven days. Pokkrong Polamueang, chief of the Chatuchak district office, said a representative of the company already paid the fine and the district office already sent a letter to demand the compensation be paid within seven days. The compensation was based on the sizes of the trees in front of Kasetsart University. ITD is extending the Green Line electric railway on Phahon Yothin Road. Mr Pokkrong said that the project required the road to be widened and 126 roadside trees would be removed. He estimated the damage of all the trees to be removed at nearly 2 million baht. ITD must pay the amount before the removal. The Chatuchak district office will ask the Environment Department of the BMA to relocate the trees. Bangkok deputy governor Chakkaphan Phewngam said he ordered all Bangkok district offices to take good care of 3.2 million trees throughout the capital, especially those along the construction sites of transport routes and public utilities. Contractors must seek permission from concerned district offices before taking any action on the trees that were the assets of the BMA, he said. (TNA)