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Published on July 16, 2007

"The fund will be used to efficiently tackle problems like garbage, pollution, traffic and drugs," BMA spokesman Chanin Rungsaeng said yesterday.

It will also be used to provide recreational activities, sports and education facilities, he said.

"We plan to complete the project within four years," Chanin said, adding that it was in line with His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's initiative.

He said the BMA planned to involve Bangkok residents in the project as well.

Chanin said the fund would be set up with the collection from a cigarette excise tax that the BMA has proposed to levy.

The BMA is currently seeking permission to levy excise taxes on cigarettes, hotels and petrol, as is done in other provinces.

"We should be able to start collecting these excise taxes next year," Chanin said.

The BMA proposes to levy a cigarette tax of not more than 10 satang per cigarette, a hotel tax at 5 per cent of the room rates, and a petrol tax of five satang per litre.

Chanin said the collections from the hotel and petrol taxes would be used for other purposes. He said BMA would consult the Thai Health Promotion Foundation in preparing the project, which will also cover health and social issues.

He said BMA and the foundation would hold a workshop to gather opinions on how to make the city pleasant to live in amid the global environmental crisis.