PUBLISHED: 8 Mar 2024 at 04: 00
A United Thai Nation Party ( UTN) MP yesterday called on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) to take action to preserve Klong Ong Ang, which he said has suffered from neglect, making it less attractive to tourists.
Addressing the House of Representatives, UTN checklist- MP Kriangyot Sudlapha said nearby businesses and residents are concerned about deteriorating conditions along the river in the China Town place that was turned into a walking streets.
Located in Phra Nakhon area, the place was reclaimed by the BMA in 2015 and transformed into a public place for outdoor activities in 2019. The river water was cleaned, the roads built, and the walls painted with city art.
The place became a city monument, with teeming walking road activities held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to attract visitors and create income for the local community.
But, Mr Kriangyot said water pollution has returned to Klong Ong Ang, its pavements were occupied by poor people, and the walking road actions were never given any attention.
” I’m asking why the BMA no longer organises activities to engage people and create income for visitors”, he said.
Following the landscape development, Klong Ong Ang won a” 2020 Asian Townscape Award” in 2021 from the United Nations Human Settlement Programme ( UN- Habitat ).
The prize “recognises the efforts of municipal leadership, business operators, planners/designers, and citizens working up as a team” based on criteria such as environmental friendliness, sustainability, respect for local culture, visual quality, and local impact, according to UN- Habitat.