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Published on November 21, 2007

The Bang Pakong residents travelled on 20 buses to protest outside the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

They joined a larger group of demonstrators protesting against other power plants in Ratchaburi, Saraburi, Rayong and Prachuap Khiri Khan, as 100 police stood guard.

The protesters demanded the ministry and ONEP reject or suspend consideration of EIA reports of all power projects because they breached the 2007 Constitution in regard to community rights and participation of independent agencies. And the EIA reports did not include all the facts.

But the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) said it had yet to approve environmental impact assessments (EIA) for the Bang Pakong plant and two other projects.

ONEP secretary-general Kasemsun Chinnavaso, who met the protesters, said the groups made requests many times and he had explained ONEP's job was to consider EIA reports. So it could not agree to their request.

Later, Kasemsun, ministry deputy permanent secretary Chatri Chuayprasit and Santi Boonprakub, director of the environmental impact assessment division, talked with protesters' representatives.

Chatri said their four main requests were to consider more active community participation; to reject the EIA reports; to have ONEP officials and experts inspect problematic locations; and to notify the Interior Ministry of findings so it could keep local administrative organisations informed.

The Ban Khao Din plant in Bang Pakong, planned by Ital-Thai, was found to lack information and community participation, Kasemsun said. It was also on Chachoengsao City Plan's "green" area, which a Cabinet resolution prohibited being used by state sectors.

The Mae Klong plant in Samut Songkhram, on the Don Hoi Lod wetland and near mangrove forests, also lacked adequate information and community participation. Its EIA was sent back to Babcock & Brown, the firm behind it.

More information was also being sought on the plant planned for Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate by Glow SPP 3, Kasemsun said.

The ONEP would soon call residents near sites of the plants to discuss their rights and problems.

 Janjira Pongrai

 The Nation