Almost three weeks ago, the NCPO issued order 9/2560 to clear hurdles for the beautification and rehousing operation.

Related agencies, the Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI) and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), reported that while legal problems had been resolved, some people living on the canal bank had refused to relocate.

BMA drainage and sewerage director Sompong Wiangkaew said the project, due to be completed by the end of the year, would be around 8 per cent behind schedule due to the resistance from some residents.

“We have completed around 10 per cent of canal enlargement and embankment building. We are trying to rush our operations to finish by the deadline at the end of this year, but we expect a slight delay from the problem in reclaiming the canal-side land,” Sompong said.

“In the project, we will have to pile around 60,000 concrete piles to build 45 kilometres of canal embankment, but now we can pile only 7,000 of them. This is because we still cannot get the access to many communities, since there are still people who oppose to the project.”

CODI assistant director Thanat Nareupornpong said that his organisation, which has a duty to support the resettlement of canal-side communities, had run into similar problems.

“We are working with 52 communities along the canal. We are helping them with the resettlement plan to move households that encroach into the canal back on land and let them live in better housing to improve their quality of life,” Thanat said.

“As the land is limited, the land in the community must be shared equally among the members, so the people who used to have a big house resist the plan, as their houses will be smaller. However, we are trying hard to convince them to join the majority who agree to the plan and see the project finished as soon as possible.”

Thanat said that his organisation, the Treasury Department and the communities were working together to survey the land and pinpoint the exact designated housing areas in 27 communities. The CODI was also working with the BMA to enable construction of the canal embankment to be finished soon, so the new houses for the communities could be built.

“We are planning to finish construction of 2,025 houses in 30 communities by September and our goal for this year is constructing 3,672 houses in 33 communities,” he added. The CODI’s work is not scheduled to be completed until next year.

The houses that will be built for Lat Phrao Canal communities will be two-storey townhouse style, which on average will afford each family 28 square metres of living space.

Meanwhile, Supaporn Market Community leader Plearnpit Surasit said most members of her community agreed with the relocation plan, as their demands to be allowed to live within the community had been met, but some did not.

“In my community, 72 households will have to move from their former houses and resettle in the new homes, supported by the CODI, but only 47 households accepted to join the programme,” Plearnpit said.

“Most people are happy with the new house conditions on the plan, while the payment rate for the new house in instalments of Bt2,000 per month is acceptable.”

She said she wished those who still disagreed with the project and insisted on living in their old houses to think carefully, as the new development would bring a better quality of life for all people in the community as well as the opportunity to create new tourist spots, which would benefit the local economy.

However, community member Rattana Rienmonkol said she did not understand why the BMA had to enlarge the canal and affect the old settlements along its banks. She said she had lived in her own house for decades and was worried that she might not have enough money to pay for a new house.

“I admit that my house encroaches into public land, but I have lived here for so long that the house had an official house number. If I have to move, there should be more help for the people, not just telling us that we are illegally encroaching on the land and driving us away,” Rattana said.