Din Daeng flats dodge demolition
Caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said yesterday he would back the plan to restore Bangkok's decades-old Din Daeng tenements, instead of razing the buildings.
Earlier, Kongsak had said the flats, some now 40 years old, should be torn down for redevelopment. According to a survey by the Asian Institute of Technology, more than half of the estate's 87 blocks near central Bangkok are now in bad condition, requiring structural repair to ensure safety. Yuranan Pamonmontee, a former MP for Din Daeng, said a Bt50-million budget was now available for restoration of the Din Daeng complex, where more than 40,000 people reside. "The National Housing Authority will have to carry out the restoration programme urgently. Residents should not worry as there is no plan to demolish the premises. We're only concerned about safety," said Yuranan. On Thursday, caretaker Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook proposed a Bt30-billion private-sector investment in new buildings to replace those that might have to be removed.
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