Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt is confident that the city’s administration will exceed its ambitious target to plant one million trees in Bangkok within four years and that Sundays may be declared tree planting day for the capital.

Today (Sunday) the governor joined Nong Khaem district officials and residents, led by the district chief, in the planting of White Champaca (michelia longifolia) trees in Buddharak Park in Phet Kasem Soi 77.

White Champaca is native to Nong Khaem district, which boasts the country’s major source of the flowering trees, with about 96 hectares planted.

The governor said that the city’s administration has received offers from numerous private entities to plant over 600,000 trees, adding that the private sector’s gesture is encouraging and gives him confidence that his target will be reached and more trees may be planted as well.

He said that the idea of making Sunday “tree planting day”will increase public awareness and participation in tree planting. He also urged media organisations to join forces to plant at least 1,000 trees.

After planting trees in the park, the governor played badminton and basketball with visitors to the park, before proceeding the Nong Khaem district office for a meeting with district officials to discuss local problems, including public lighting, a broken flood wall, damaged and insufficient CCTV cameras and the impacts of garbage disposal facilities.

Following the recent fire in the Bon Kai community, in the Khlong Toei area, the governor was informed by Nong Khaem district office today that there are 3,167 fire extinguishers in crowded communities and 188 more at municipal schools in the district, plus 22 at the district office.

The checking of extinguishers is a precautionary measure in case there is a fire in the district and the devices can be usedwhile waiting for the arrival of firemen and fire trucks.