Chatuchak district office has filed a police complaint against construction giant Italian-Thai Development plc (ITD) for savagely lopping back 14 large trees outside Kasetsart University in Bangkok without permission.
Pictures of over-pruned trees in front of the university have gone viral online, sparking criticism of city officials’ management of scenic and shade-giving roadside trees.
Pokkrong Pollamuang, the district chief, explained the trees were lopped back by ITD, which is contracted to construct the Green Line electric rail extension linking Mor Chit, Saphan Mai and Kukot.
The company earlier sought permission from city authorities to expand roads to make room for the construction of the route, said Mr Pokkrong. This led to the district office making a survey of roadside trees in the area, and the process is still underway.
It was discovered that the company had already heavily pruned nine trees in front of the university and another five in front of a nearby Government Savings Bank branch, without waiting for the survey or getting permission from Chatuchak district office.
The office has filed a complaint about the pruning with Bang Khen police, Mr Pokkrong said. It also wrote to the company it was liable to a fine, under the Maintenance of Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country Act, of up to 2,000 baht in connection with felling trees in a public place.
ITD president Premchai Karnasuta faces multiple charges in relation to alleged poaching of wildlife in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.
The 63-year-old tycoon was arrested at the sanctuary along with three camping companions on the night of Feb 4. They were found in possession of carcasses of protected wild animals and a bullet-hole ridden black Indochinese leopard pelt.
