Published on October 18, 2005

Civil groups in Chiang Mai called on the governor yesterday to release blueprints for the city’s biggest mega-project - Chiang Mai World - for public debate amid increasing fears that it might have wide-ranging cultural, social and environmental repercussions for city residents. The development package comprises 14 tourism-related projects stretching over 23,000 rai of the Suthep-Pui National Park. The park covers woodland on and around Doi Suthep, home to a revered Buddhist shrine, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.

The planned constructions encompass a wide range of projects in a bid to boost tourism to the province: a night safari, a 15 km-long cable car service, a luxury resort, a marine aquarium, a theme park, a spa complex, an exhibition centre, a decorative plant centre, a garden plant centre, an elephant park, as well as a monorail.

Some 30 representatives of civic groupings belonging to the “Love Chiang Mai” network - including monks, academics, activists, artists, businessmen and students - gathered at Chiang Mai’s provincial hall yesterday to submit their demands to Governor Sawat Tantipat.

“Although some projects have already started and many are in the pipeline, we the residents of this town remain uninformed about the long-term effects [on our homes],” their memorandum said. “First of all, we want the governor to release plans for all projects to the public in order that [proper debate can be held on the impact].”

One of their main concerns, the petitioners insisted, was the construction of a cable-car station at a respected religious site, the Khruba Sriwichai Statue, which many feared would violate the sanctity of the shrine dedicated to a revered monk, Phra Khruba Sriwichai.

They also expressed concerns that some projects would have extensive negative effects on local water and natural resources.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai Cultural Council president Chao Duangduan na Chiang Mai has rejected plans by zoo officials to hold a traditional Lanna-style wedding ceremony for the city’s famous panda couple, Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui. The ceremony was to have taken place on November 7 and 8.

“Such a ceremony would distort the meaning of Lanna wedding traditions,” she said.

Kamol Sukin,

Suphitcha Chantapa

The Nation

Post your comment to this story here