Currently there's a big furore over a plan to send thousands of pigeons from Bangkok to Ratchaburi.
"Ratchaburi residents are deeply worried about what the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to do. They have pig farms. What will happen if the pigeons spread bird flu there?" Ratchaburi MP Pareena Kraikupt said for her constituents.
She said even local monks did not agree with the BMA move.
In the face of angry reaction from Ratchaburi residents, BMA has agreed to put a brake on any delivery of the birds to Ratchaburi.
Initially, BMA intended to round up the roaming birds in the capital's Sanam Luang and then release them in Ratchaburi.
These pigeons have long flown freely around Sanam Luang but their presence is very much a public nuisance.
Vehicles have often been smeared with droppings just as some passers-by have faced the same fate.
Although BMA means well to bring the pigeons away from the city residents, it clearly has failed to think about the impact on others.
Apparently, BMA has not discussed the issue with Ratchaburi authorities and locals there first. That explains why locals in Ratchaburi have quickly come forward to air their dissatisfaction.
In fact, BMA should have learnt a lesson that it could not just pass on the mess to other provinces. Any intention to do so will only upset locals in other areas and does nothing to improve the capital's conditions.
A year ago, a plan by BMA to move on stray dogs has also collapsed.
BMA has spent up to Bt200million on building a big facility in Uthai Thani for the strays from Bangkok.
A survey showed Bangkok was home to about 120,000 street dogs. Aside from the fact that these dogs have dirtied Bangkok roads and towns, they have also posed a threat to many passers-by.
Last year, the construction of this facility was completed. It should be able to accommodate between 8,000 and 10,000 stray dogs.
So far, because the residents of Uthai Thani protested, the facility has remained idle and strays
are still roaming Bangkok.
If the BMA has not learned to carefully draw up its plans by taking into account the impact on others, it will never be successful in solving many of its city's problems.
Look at how Sanam Luang remains home to many vagabonds, despite countless operations to rid the place of them. Such consequences have arisen because BMA failed to prepare measures to support its own plans.
If BMA wants to send stray dogs or pigeons somewhere else, it must talk to local people there first and see what good those people can receive in return.
If BMA want to ensure Sanam Luang is free of vagabonds, it must help them with jobs and accommodation to allow these people to stand on their own feet and leave the streets once and for all.
