A compensation dispute between Airports of Thailand (AOT) and residents suffering from noise pollution caused by the new Suvarnabhumi Airport must be resolved within two months, according to disgruntled householders.

A number of residents are dissatisfied with the compensation offer and the attitude of the AOT.

In addition, a new group of home-owners from Bang Phli in Samut Prakan will lodge a complaint about unexpected noise pollution from take-offs and landings.

"Ninety per cent of Lat Krabang residents have been here for generations. My family has been living here for 100 years," said Chaloey Klinsukon, a resident with a 120-square-wah home.

Chaloey is unhappy about AOT compensation, which he claims is lower than his home's Bt25,000-per-square-wah market price.

Vinai Saechueng shares the sentiment: "I don't like the AOT attitude when it says Lat Krabang has developed thanks to the airport. The area was developed before the airport was constructed. We didn't want the airport, or to move."

AOT president Chotisak Asapaviriya insisted compensation payments would be fair and all 71 households - including those of Vinai and Chotisak - would be satisfied.

He said most complainants were from parts of Lat Krabang in Bangkok and Moo Baan Chaiyapruk in Samut Prakan.

Meanwhile, more discontented residents emerged at Bang Phli. They met with AOT yesterday. Residents from Nobel Park, Raimon Park and the administrator of Sathit Bang Na School held a separate meeting yesterday.

They complained of surprise at being affected by airport noise because they were not supposed to be on a flight path.

"The television signal is down, you can't hear the person on the other end of the telephone, and some can't sleep," said one Nobel Park resident who asked not to be named.

AOT promised to survey the location where the new complainants lived and resolve the dispute within one month.

In a new development at the airport Chotisak reported another hitch. He announced an investigation was under way into why engineers had failed to swiftly free passengers in a stalled elevator and laughed at those trapped inside.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation