News Forum - Buckle up, Bangkok: Thai official floats capital relocation amid rising sea

[Thaiger]

A senior Thai official yesterday raised the alarming possibility that Thailand may need to consider relocating its capital city Bangkok due to the threat posed by rising sea levels caused by climate change. The bustling metropolis of the capital already grapples with severe flooding during the rainy season each year. Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Department … …

The story Buckle up, Bangkok: Thai official floats capital relocation amid rising sea as seen on Thaiger News.

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[BigHewer]

I may be somewhat cynical, but I smell a rat here. No way the capital is moving, but it presents a big “opportunity” for some. Indonesia is mentioned in the article and therein lies a cautionary tale. Could the same recipe be followed in Thailand?

1. Identify higher ground where there is a lot of cheap land. For argument’s sake, let’s have Chaiyaphum province stand in for Indonesia’s Nusantara.

2. Acquire lots and lots of land, “fairly” compensating land owners at just above market rates.

3. Grand announcement followed by tenders. Land resold to eager developers at 10 times the price paid as in Nusantara. 

4. Delays, backpedaling, negotiations, oops too late. Prices dip after the initial excitement. Landowners displaced, speculators left holding some rather large bags (some others holding rather large envelopes). 

Of course, this is just speculation and would surely never happen in Thailand.