Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said yesterday the plan to fell 200 trees in the capital's Wachirabenchatat Park (Suan Rod Fai) was only a proposal from the contrac¬tor and had not been approved by the BMA.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has indefinitely suspended the plan to merge Wachirabenchatat, Chatuchak and Queen Sirikit parks because it would involve cutting down trees that are more than 20 years old. The plan has also been receiving a lot of criticism and resistance.
BMA spokesman Thanom Onketphol said yesterday that Sukhumbhand had no plans to cut down any trees because it would be against the "increasing green areas" policy. Besides, if there is a need to cut down trees, the city needs to seek permis¬sion from His Majesty first.
Thanom said Sukhumbhand had told all city agen¬cies to seek permission from BMA before cutting any trees, and if trees do need to be cut down, they should be removed and replanted at another spot.