BMA to order better control building demolitions

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) -- Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning said that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to implement a article of the Building Control Act, in which all procedures of a building demolition must be reported to concerned authorities and must be completed within seven days. The Department Director-General Monthon Sudprasert said that his department has coordinated with the BMA and the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) to reinspect the collapsed buildibg in the Sukhumvit soi 87, where engineers from the Structural Engineer and System Bureau would also be joining the second round of inspection. He said the BMA has asked the public to stay clear of the building and nearby areas, as the structure is unstable and could collapse further. Mr Monthon said the BMA has planned to implement a stricter measure for building control, where contractors must be ensured to strictly follow all legal procedures and all demolitions must be overseen by licensed civil engineers. All knock down procedures must be presented to local concerned authorities before proceeding, in which the planned demolition must be finished within the next seven days, otherwise the BMA would tear down the structure by itself. (TNA)