Naklua residents hoping that a new administration in Pattaya City Hall would drop plans to demolish their homes for encroaching on public land are in for a rude surprise.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said Oct. 8 that demolitions planned for encroaching structures on the Nokyang Canal will be carried out as scheduled.
That news bursts the bubbles for residents who have speculated that the replacement of the former regime last month with Sonthaya Kunplome would mean a reprieve for them.
Ekasingh, who also served as deputy mayor to Itthiphol Kunplome, oversaw some demolitions at the South Pattaya Canal, but left others there in place and never issued an order against encroachments at the Nokyang or Pukplub canal.
The military-appointed administrators who took over for Itthiphol in 2015 not only completely cleared the remainder of the South Pattaya Canal, but all the encroachments at the Pukplub Canal and began proceedings at Nokyang.
Ekasingh lauded the previous administration’s efforts and said they would continue, acknowledging some residents thought that career politician Sonthaya – who still heads the Palong Chon Party – would be concerned about offending his base of voters in next year’s elections.
Absolutely not, Ekasingh confirmed, saying the demolitions would be carried out according to the law, although the city would offer relocation assistance to those affected.
