Appeals against injunction of Map Ta Phut projects to be studied

During his meeting with members of the Network of Eastern People, Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng yesterday carried a board saying, “Rayong residents are in trouble. Air is so polluted. Gov, please help”. The network’s members called on him to c

The Central Administrative Court issued the injunction on September 28, which was appealed against by National Environmental Board, ministers and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand on October 2.

Then on October 15, a group of villagers from Rayong province filed their opposition to this appeal.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva said he would speak to the leader of the villagers' group before he discusses the problems with the National Environmental Board at Government House today. At the meeting, he said regulations and industrial classifications would also be discussed.

He added that the National Health Commission was studying the Health Impact Assessment, while discussions with the environmental independent body and a public hearing should be able to come up with a clear picture by today.

"I told them that this issue needs to be solved immediately," Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, the government has come up with two measures to solve the health and environment problems in Map Ta Phut - a 200bed hospital and a wastemanagement centre.

The resolutions came after Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu met with a group of Rayong residents and asked them for advice on solving the problems.

The group of 50 Map Ta Phut residents started walking to Bangkok on Saturday and arrived at the Parliament building on Wednesday. They then pleaded with the Senate Speaker to investigate the government's failure in abiding by provisions in the Constitution.

After discussing the issues with the group's representatives, Korbsak said the villagers had accepted the two measures but would not agree on some legal points.

About three years ago, the Public Health Ministry proposed that the existing 80bed hospital in Map Ta Phut be extended to 120 beds. However, Korbsak said 120 beds would not be enough considering that there were so many health problems in the area, so he proposed that the hospital have 200 beds.

The minister added that the construction of the hospital will be funded under the Thai Khemkhaeng stimulus package, and that the government will allocate Bt300 million for the wastemanagement centre.

Meanwhile, a group called Rayong Solidarity was seen demonstrating on Sukhumvit Road and asking pedestrians to fill in questionnaires on the impact industrial development has had on their lives.

The group's leader, Sutha Hemasathol, said he will be handing these questionnaires to the PM and Senate Speaker, so they understand local sentiment on unrestricted development.