Ayutthaya:The House Committee on Religious Affairs is actively addressing land issues related to temples and mosques in Ayutthaya, aiming to find urgent solutions.
According to Thai News Agency, the committee, led by Mr. Padith Sangkhachai, Vice Chair of the Committee, visited Ayutthaya to engage with key stakeholders about compensation for a road project affecting temple land and concerns related to waqf land, cemeteries, and halal food protection raised by the Ayutthaya Islamic Committee.
During their visit, the committee met with representatives at Wat Phukhao Thong to discuss compensation for a rural highway cut through temple land. The meeting included local administration, the Royal Irrigation Department, and other relevant agencies. It was agreed that Wat Phukhao Thong and the National Office of Buddhism would contact the Ayutthaya Provincial Land Office to verify land boundaries and ownership before proceeding with necessary steps.
The committee also met with the Islamic Committee of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province at Dom Thong Mosque. Mr. Pradit Rattanagomol presented a request for the committee to look into the land title deed issue of Mi'ul Khairat Mosque. Additional discussions included waqf land taxation, halal certification, and promoting Ayutthaya as a multicultural tourism hub.
Further proposals included increasing pay for religious leaders, resolving cemetery land transfer issues, and creating kinship records for land donors. The committee committed to considering these issues and will consult relevant agencies to develop solutions.