The Region 5 Court of Appeal office will clear the air with civil and conservation groups on Monday over its controversial project to construct a new office and housing for judicial employees at the foot of Doi Suthep National Park in Chiang Mai province, a source has said.
The project has drawn fierce criticism from locals, who said that it would have a negative environmental impact on the forest.
However, the Region 5 Court of Appeal office, which owns the project, insists that it is in compliance with the law. The construction site is located on Treasury Department land in tambon Don Kaew in Mae Rim district and it is not part of the national park, the office said.
But conservation groups and local people are unhappy, saying that even though the project is legal, it is inappropriate to have a housing project there. While the area is not part of the national park, the construction site stands next to it.
The Office of the Judiciary has given assurances that measures will be put in place to improve the environment and replant trees after construction.
Taking note of local people's concerns over its environmental impact, army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad, who is also secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order, instructed soldiers from the 3rd Army region to inspect the construction site between earlier this month and a conclusion was reached that the project is within the 147 rai of land permitted for construction.
Gen Chalermchai has given the construction the go-ahead, saying that the project does not encroach on the forest or violate any laws.
He also said the construction has proceeded to a point where it is too late to be halted as more than 1 billion baht has already been spent on the project.
