Representatives of 15 civic groups in Chiang Mai will meet with commander of the 33rd army circle Maj-Gen Sathit Srisuwan tomorrow (Tuesday) asking him to extend the suspension of construction of the housing project for judges at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain.
The groups on Monday petitioned Chiang Mai governor and the provincial office of the Treasury Department to demand details of the housing project for judges of the 5th Region Appeals Court and terms of condition for the housing project in Mae Rim district.
Maj-Gen Sathit clarified that there was only a request for cooperation to suspend the construction and to not expand the construction site any further.
As for the continuing construction work, he said he suspected there might be a binding obligation to carry on the construction between the judges and the contractor.
An official of the provincial treasury office told representatives of the groups that the land plot where the housing project is located used to be occupied by the military before it was turned over for use by the 5th Region Appeals Court under and an agreement which was consented by the Treasury Department.
The civic groups have been protesting against the housing project, claiming that it would threaten the environment and ecological system of Doi Suthep mountain.
The groups plan to petition the National Environment Board this week and, at the same time, to take the matter to the Administrative Court against those responsible for approving the project.
Earlier, Army Commander-in-Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart ordered the project to be put on hold pending discussions among parties concerned regarding the project.
However, construction work still continues as usual with cement mixer trucks and trucks carrying construction materials getting in and exiting the construction site.
A court official said last week there was no order from the army chief to suspend the construction and, hence, construction work carries on as usual.
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