The government's steering and state administration reform panel has decided that City Hall can proceed with demolishing houses in the Mahakan Fort community.
Bangkok deputy governor Chakkaphan Phewngam said on Friday the committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, agreed to allow the agency to continue knocking down houses around the Mahakan Fort, starting next January, under its land development plan.
According to the committee, the community shared land was expropriated legally by the BMA earlier. Therefore, the community was not allowed to possess land which is also regarded as public areas under the law.
The decision came after town conservation and rehabilitation civic groups, comprising academics and Mahakan Fort residents, lodged a petition with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Oct 6.
They called for the scrapping of demolition plans and demanded the formation of a multilateral panel to address conflicts between Mahakan Fort residents and state officials, as well as a plan to preserve the Mahakan Fort community including other old communities in the Rattanakosin area.
Mr Chakkaphan said the steering committee also disagreed with setting up the panel as City Hall's plan was in line with the group's purpose, saying the plan aimed to develop areas into a historic park featuring historical knowledge of culture and livelihoods in the Rattanakosin era.
He said the BMA will recruit the fort residents to oversee the park and provide historical knowledge of the area to visitors.
A formal letter will be issued to the networks while signboards with resolution details will be erected in the community.