Pochanee, in her capacity as chair of the NLA committee tasked with finding a location for the new Parliament, said Irrigation Department chief Samart Chokkanapitak, backed an approval dated June 15 for use of the 210rai golf course plot, but said involved parties should be given appropriate compensation.

Pochanee denied reports that three schools and a famous temple would be relocated due to the planned construction.

She said Cholaprathan Withaya School, the temple, fresh market, mosque, and nearby communities would not be affected.

Her comments follow a protest attended by at least 6,200 local residents oppose the plan last Friday.

"NLA speaker Meechai Ruchuphan heard that Cholaprathan Wittaya school and parents were angry about the plan [though they will not be affected] so he called the school deputy director to explain, but we do not under¬stand why students still came out in protest," Pochanee said.

A panel headed by NLA member Pol General Patheep Tanprasert, and the Irrigation Department deputy directorgeneral, had been formed to reach an understanding with the affected people. They will meet today at the Parliament about compensation.

Pochanee said compensation for the golf course and buildings  plus employees  will be up to Bt3.5 billion.

She said the panel would contact noted monk Luang Phor Panyanandha, abbot of Cholaprathan Rangsarit Temple, who strongly opposed the plan.

"I believe that he has been given wrong information. Once we explain to him the reasons and intention, he will under¬stand," she said.

She defended the move, say¬ing the plan was transparent and there was no need to con¬duct a public hearing as the area was crown land.

"If the project is completed, Nonthaburi will be more pros¬perous because Parliament is the Kingdom's important place."

She said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont supported the project and was ready to allocate funds in the 2008 fis¬cal budget for the purpose.

Chonlaprathan Songkraoh School officials, meanwhile, submitted a letter to the NLA panel dated June 11, saying they were ready to move location so that the school will not obstruct "the scenery" of the new parlia¬ment.

The school requested Bt421 million for relocation and con¬struction of a new school plus a fourlane road.

The Nation