Srisuwan Janya, president of the Stop Global Warming Association, joined residents of Soi Lang Suan and Mahat Lek Luang 2 who were angry about plans for a 26-floor condominium in an area of trees that is home to wildlife.
The court complaint is against the Pathumwan District Office director, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Public Works Department director and BMA governor for alleged negligence in performing their lawful duties with regard to the Mahadlek Residences construction project.
The group is seeking a temporary injunction to halt the project.
Srisuwan said the three defendants approved the project, for which the Thai Factory Development Plc leased a plot of land from the Office of the Privy Purse. He claimed that the land was in an area of trees inhabited by birds and squirrels that was also a “lung” for residents, and that people had been protesting against the project since its inception.
He also claimed the project’s first Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report did not approve the project but it went through eventually because it offered another area to serve as a green zone for public use to meet the requirement.
Srisuwan said residents also filed a complaint against the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning at the Central Administrative Court last year in an attempt to have the EIA report cancelled. They also told city executives that the case was still ongoing but construction had proceeded anyway.
He claimed that foundation pillars for the project were now being built and that the noise was louder than legally permitted.