The Office of the Judiciary is to continue a project to construct a new Region 5 Court of Appeal office and housing for judicial employees at the foot of Doi Suthep National Park, in Chiang Mai province.
Its secretary-general, Sarawut Benjakul, told reporters on Tuesday the office is pressing ahead with the development project after taking note of local people's concerns over its environmental impact.
In light of this, the office has come up with measures to improve the environment and replant trees after construction, Mr Sarawut said, adding the development was in compliance with the law.
Asked if the office has discussed the issue with the military, which has jurisdiction over the land where construction is taking place, he said the judiciary office had consulted with all agencies involved.
He said construction would continue and meet the deadline for handover by June.
"We think we can co-exist in harmony with the environment and we will help look after nearby forests. This is an important responsibility and we will get to work on it straight away," Mr Sarawut said.
As law enforcers, the courts of justice are duty-bound to follow the law and have no special privileges, he said.
Sawat Surawattananan, president of the Court of Appeal Region 5, last month said the site has been state owned since 2006 and felling of trees would only be carried out where necessary.
The project, if finished, will house approximately 200 officials from seven judicial organisations in Chiang Mai.
Even though the Office of the Judiciary has stressed the project is not illegal, it has attracted considerable opposition.
Civil and conservation groups in Chiang Mai on Monday submitted a petition to the director-general of the Treasury Department, which is responsible for managing state land, calling for the development to be scrapped and the site restored as forest land.
They also handed sought access to detailed information -- such as environmental impact studies -- from the Chiang Mai governor.
Prof Chalermphone Sampet, leader of the Pakee Khon Hug Chiang Mai group, said the civil sector wants the development moved elsewhere because the housing project is located on a slope and juts out into the forest at the foot of Doi Suthep, which is an environmentally sensitive area.
If damaged, the forest would be difficult to restore, he said.
Sub Lt Yongyuth Rueangpattarakul, attached to the Chiang Mai treasury office, said yesterday he accepted the petition from the civil groups and the matter would be considered by agencies involved. The result of this review would be made known shortly, he said.
