BANGKOK, 17 September 2019 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolis Assembly (BMA) has launched a campaign urging residents along the Chao Phraya River not to litter or discharge waste matter into the river, promoting a landscape renovation of Chao Phraya River, now on the WMF’s 2018 World Monuments Watch list.
Officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have taken to boats to remove pests along the Chao Phraya River, as part of a landscaping renovation project prior to the nomination of the Chao Phraya River as one of 28 sites on the World Monuments Fund’s 2018 World Monuments Watch.
A Bangkok Metropolis Assembly Member, Paitoon Khumpharat, led staff boarding the boats as part of the campaign to encourage riverside residents to refrain from littering or discharging waste into the river, especially in the stretch from Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge to the Memorial Bridge, to help conserve the river known as the river of the life of the land. The campaigners delivered campaign stickers to members of the general public and merchants in Wang Lang market and Wang Lang community in Bangkok Noi district.
“As a first step, we will pilot the project on the section between Phra Pinklao Bridge and Memorial Bridge. This pilot area is currently a special area free of water hyacinth, litter, and unwanted waste in the river. We will have to talk to villagers regarding wastewater. The problem is we currently have no treatment facilities, and all wastewater is discharged into Chao Phraya River. This poses a major problem. The river is not heavily polluted at present due to the rainy season which brings in a large volume of water and water hyacinth. However it is a most important priority, that we stop waste discharge into Chao Phraya River.
The BMA is planning to construct a Thonburi waste water treatment facility at the back of Bangkok Noi District Office to help overcome water pollution issues in Khlong Bangkok Noi, Khlong Chak Phra, Khlong Bang Khun Non, Khlong Mon, and Khlong Bang Bamru canals. as well as the Chao Phraya River. The facility will serve an area of 36.44 square kilometers, which will be used as a park to help improve the city environment.”
