Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont visited Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday and said he was not satisfied with the delays in solving problems that range from cracks on runways and taxiways to safety at the terminal and contract disputes with duty-free monopoly King Power International Group.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was not satisfied yesterday with the problem-solving delays at Suvarnabhumi airport by Airports of Thailand (AoT).
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um quoted the prime minister as saying there had been no concrete solutions over the past seven months to the problems at the new airport.
He expressed his concern in a meeting of the committee overseeing policy on operations at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports of AoT.
It was the prime minister's second visit to the new airport which is plagued by problems ranging from cracks on runways and taxiways to safety at the terminal and contract disputes over commercial areas inside the building between AoT and King Power International Group.
The panel agreed to hold a meeting every month to speed up problem-solving.
It also agreed in principle on AoT's proposal for the government to shoulder the burden of compensation payments for households exposed to harmful aircraft noise from Suvarnabhumi, according to the deputy minister. A committee will be set up to determine compensation figures for affected residents, he added.
AoT has received 389 million baht to pay compensation to 71 households.
Four households which agreed to move from the area are expected to receive their compensation next month. Another 18 households want the airport agency to repair their houses.
Mr Sansern said AoT was asked to speed up talks with the remaining households.
On the termination of contracts with King Power, AoT has been awaiting a letter from the Attorney-General's Office to officially notify the firm about the nullification of the contracts.
King Power was granted the contracts to run duty free shops and commercial areas at Suvarnabhumi. But the AoT board terminated the contracts citing a lack of transparency. AoT also reported that 70% of the damaged runways had been fixed and experts will be hired to find the real causes of the damage.
The National Legislative Assembly's committee investigating problems at Suvarnabhumi led by panel chairman Bannawit Keng-rian and Praphan Khoonmee, head of the inquiry team, yesterday met the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) to consult on the investigation into King Power's contracts.
Adm Bannawit quoted ASC secretary Kaewsan Atipho as saying that the ASC had found wrongdoings involving the contracts and it will probe the matter further. It will file a criminal suit against the firm after the investigation is complete, he said.
Source : Bangkok Post
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