SUVARNABHUMI / AIRCRAFT NOISE, MOVE TO DON MUANG

Noise compensation bill to top B120 billion

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Airports of Thailand will need government money to buy out residents withering under the onslaught of aircraft noise from nearby Suvarnabhumi airport, with total compensation payments estimated at 121.5 billion baht. The company has completed its estimates of compensation for owners of property to the north and south of the eastern and western runways, an Airports of Thailand (AoT) source said yesterday.

About one billion baht will be offered to schools, hospitals, government agencies and public places around the new airport, the source said.

The rest will go to owners of private property suffering from the noise.

The problem is, AoT does not have the money to pay the compensation, because it is tied down by a 70-billion-baht debt with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The money was borrowed for construction of the airport.

Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said he would need to take a detailed look at the estimates drawn up by AoT. The acquisition of some properties to the north and south of the runways could be a long-term solution, he said.

As for immediate solutions, AoT should speed up paying initial compensation, which had already been allocated to some noise-affected communities.

Mr Sansern was at Don Muang Airport yesterday with Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen, inspecting preparations for reopening of the airport for some flights while repairs are being done at Suvarnabhumi.

Adm Theera confirmed Don Muang would reopen for regular domestic services on March 25 as scheduled.

The domestic terminal will serve domestic flights, and terminal one in the international wing will handle charter flights. Renovation of the terminals should be finished by Tuesday, he said.

Mr Sansern said he planned to lift the 50-baht surcharge for taxis exiting Don Muang airport with passengers because the airport was situated near communities and access was easy.

Air force chief ACM Chalit Pukpasuk, as chairman of Thai Airways International, said the national carrier would open check-in counters at Lat Phrao subway station to serve passengers going to Don Muang airport when it reopens.

Bangkok Post
Thursday March 15, 2007