The president of the Fifth Region Court of Appeals says the lodging project for judges at the foot of Doi Suthep hill legal and does not encroach on the Doi Suthep-Pui national park.
Affirmation of the legality of the project from the court president Mr Udom Sitvirajtham came after the project was widely critised in the social media with critics accusing that it encroached on the Doi Suthep-Pui national park.
The 900-million baht project, comprising of 47 single houses, and 13 condominiums, is located on a 147 rai plot of land outside the national park.
Mr Udom said construction of the project has been legally sought and the reason to build single houses because of the slopy geographic location.
However he assured that 58 rai of land on higher slopes have been reserved to keep its natural surroundings.
Construction started last year and us scheduled to finish in September this year.
The land belonged to the Army and was granted for use by the Justice Ministry since 2006.
