Fate of troubled Klong Dan plant still undecided

While authorities and engineers want to complete the plant, local residents and activists oppose such a move.

"There has been no conclusion made so far. We are trying our best to seek a proper solution for this project," Supat Wangwongwattana, director-general of the Pollution Control Department (PCD) told The Nation this week.

Supat referred to progress of the ad-hoc committee chaired by Phuttisak Namdej, an inspector in the PM's Office, seeking a solution for the project. Three subcommittees were set up recently to oversee legal, social and technical aspects.

"We had to realise that this project is already 98-per-cent completed and most of the Bt23-billion budget has been spent. The question today is how to deal with it despite the court process over corruption linked to it," Supat said.

"Pollution in the area is critical and the treatment facilities are almost completed. The PCD has no duty to make a decision even though we know it would be good and technically possible to continue construction and make the facility beneficial to the public. Our only role is providing information for the committee to make a proper decision," he said.

"There is no timeframe for the committee's work but we will try to finalise it as soon as possible."

Engineer and senior pollution expert Thongchai Phansawat suggested finishing construction, while taking the best care of local concerns.

"We cannot refuse to drive our new car just because the car salesman defrauded us. The corruption cases must continue and let it be up to the court to rule on those," he said.

"All local concerns must be responded to properly. Technically, it is possible to improve the project's plant to operate without bad smells, with less water drained into the sea using a recycling process, as well as building a longer drain pipe far out from the coast where local fishermen do not fish," Thongchai said.

Local resident Chalao Thimthong, however, said such thinking was irrelevant for the controversial case. "We cannot think of only the money aspects. It is wrong to say that Bt23 billion has already been invested so the construction should go on. This project has been a mistake from day one - the site-selection process, then the corruption, technical and legal matters - so we should not repeat the same mistakes by continuing it," Chalao said.

Activist Phenchome Tang said part of the facility already built had been badly damaged due to land at the site subsiding, as a result of graft during the construction process.

"That means we need to put even more money into this flawed project. We'd prefer to leave the facility as a visible monument to Thailand's corruption while turning part of it into a local aquaculture centre for public education and to supply of aquatic animals to local fishermen," she said.