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Published on October 22, 2007

 Detcharut Sukkumnoed, a lecturer at Kasetsart University who leads a research team for National Health Commission Office, said that according to the UNDP report on the nation's human development index, the quality of family and community life at Map Ta Phut stood at 59, even though the people there were generally better off.

Quality of life in Map Ta Phut is even lower than poor provinces like Nakhon Pathom, which stood at 58.

Most Rayong residents earn an average of Bt691,093 per year thanks to industrial development, while Nakhon Pathom averaged Bt121,381 and the nationwide average is a mere Bt101,304 per person per year.

"Having the highest per capita income does not ensure a high quality of life," Detcharut said.

Meanwhile, a survey into satisfaction and lessons learned from industrial development found that 62.5 per cent of Rayong residents want their area to become an emission-free zone, 55.6 per cent want the economy to be based on agriculture and 47.8 per cent want communities to become friendlier.

Burapha and Chulalongkorn universities also did an analysis on the social situation in Rayong after it was swamped by industrial development 25 years ago. Some 1,200 local residents participated in the survey.

Chaiyon Praditsil, who leads the survey team, said the study showed that Rayong residents were strongly affected by the rapid development of industry in Map Ta Phut and other industrial estate areas.

Most of the problems affecting the residents were environmental and social, which have led to a greater conflict between the wealthy and the poor.

Results of these studies would be submitted to the National Health Committee and serve as recommendations for the new government to consider giving health and environmental protection for Map Ta Put residents.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation