PUBLISHED: 4:00 on December 8, 2023.
An MP from the state stated that the government recently approved a 28 million ringgit budget to pay for the design of the contentious cable car project that would run up Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei.
The statement from Lertsak Watthanachaikul, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Loei, was likewise echoed by PM’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad, another ex-member of the group, who confirmed the pattern bank was presented to the government on December 4 at its meeting in Nong Bua Lam Phu.
Ms. Puangpet continued by saying that the government and the fund had in principle agreed to create a cable car blueprint.
The statements ran counter to remarks made by government official Chai Wacharonke, who had previously denied that the government had discussed the project at that time.
Yesterday, Mr. Lertsak clarified that the cable car was not taken into consideration as a stand-alone job during the Dec. 4 case session. The pattern bank was requested as part of a larger budget for Loei province development.
The Yingluck Shinawatra leadership gave the initiative, which has deeply divided public opinion, the go-ahead in theory in 2012, and a feasibility study was mandated.
The project, which received a green light in 2012, does not require the project’s initial approval in principle by another case. Additionally, the viability study from earlier has been updated.
Whether the initiative received the go-ahead at the Dec. 4 appointment has been a matter of debate. According to the MP, the problem was actually brought up in the commission’s growth strategy as one of its components.
He continued,” The cable car legislation is moving forward and is supported by locals for the economic advancement it did bring.”
He downplayed worries about economic harm caused by cable car design and overtourism, saying Phu Kradueng’s carrying capacity would be taken into account.
Pheu Kradueng was referred to as the nation’s best sightseeing road on Twitter yesterday by Sasin Chalermlarp, president of the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation and a renowned conservationist.