CityNews – Chiang Mai Municipality has released an explanation for cutting down a tree at Klang Wiang, near the shrine at the centre intersection of the old city.
A local activist Facebook page, Raks Mae Ping, posted pictures this week of a big tree at Klang Wiang being chopped down by the municipality. The post raised many questions about the reasons for cutting this tree down, with many negative responses from netizens.
The photos that went viral in Chiang Mai caused the Chiang Mai Municipality to make a statement explaining their actions on May 3rd. The reason they gave for cutting down the tree was the concern that the tree may collapse onto their homes after strong winds battered the city recently, which have caused a number of trees to fall across the city.
They added that six palms planted around the moat have also been removed due to the safety concerns. The palms had already bloomed and they are perennials, the municipality explained.