Thread: Chiang Mai Flower Show

Botanical garden plan criticised
Viability, waste management questioned
By Cheewin Sattha

Businesses and local bodies have raised concerns about plans to reopen the site of the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek expo as a botanical garden. They claim the reopening of the 470-rai plot early next month as a tourist destination lacks a comprehensive management and marketing plan to make it financially viable and sustainable.


The Agriculture Department plans to reopen the site, which will be managed by a new agency called the Chalermphrakiat Ratchaphruek Garden Administration Office, on Aug 3 as a botanical garden. It has been closed since the three-month-long expo came to an end on January 31.

Thanawat Yodchai, chairman of Mae Hia tambon administration organisation, said yesterday the department had not sought any cooperation from his office in supporting the scheme.
He said his primary concern was flooding and rubbish management at the site, which is under the jurisdiction of the tambon administration organisation (TAO).
According to the TAO chairman, several villages surrounding the expo site had been inundated by water released from the site.
He also said possible chemical contamination of water resources posed health concerns as the site houses more than two million trees and plants.
However, he said public health authorities would attend to the problem.
''As a local authority, Mae Hia TAO is ready to manage garbage disposal for the site. I expect lots of refuse after the reopening,'' he said.
He added that he was not properly informed of the purpose of the reopening.

Narong Tananuwat, president of the provincial chamber of commerce, criticised the department for ''going it alone'' on the project.
''The management framework for the project is important. A state agency cannot do it alone. It needs cooperation from other sectors,'' he said.
Besides management, planning marketing plans were also required in order to draw tourists, he said.
''I cannot say if the project will survive under the present economic environment. I have never seen a public relations campaign or event activity [to promote the site],'' he said.
He added that if the project is to be developed as a botanical garden, those in charge should coordinate with education institutes to turn the site into a learning centre.

Duentemduang na Chiang Mai, mayor-elect of Chiang Mai municipality, said it remained to be seen whether the site could be turned into a tourist destination. She said the limited budget was a major obstacle.
According to Ms Duentemduang, the provincial administrative organisation was also interested in operating and managing the site.

Maitree Yaowarat, director of Chalermphrakiat Ratchaphruek Garden, said re-landscaping is underway to prepare for the reopening.
He said the exhibition buildings had been removed but the plants and trees, especially the dozens of international gardens, had been kept intact.
The gardens, which were the highlight of the flora expo, remained pretty much the same, he said _ except for the tulip garden arranged by the Netherlands during the event.
He said the department would contact the embassies of countries that took part in the flora expo to organise future exhibitions.

However, Lt-Gen Yongyuth Puangthong, former chairman of the committee in charge of construction and infrastructure of the royal flora project, said it was a pity the site had sat empty and unused since the end of January.
His view was echoed by Dee Kantharak, kamnan of tambon Mae Hia.
''The government invested billions of baht in the project and should have made use of it to benefit both the state and the local community,'' he said.

Bangkok Post