'Not enough data' to list 18 projects as dangerous
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday ordered a review in the National Environment Board's conclusion detailing 18 businesses deemed hazard to human health in relation with the Map Ta Phut industrial estate.
Speaking yesterday at an NEB meeting discussing the progress of the entire framwork, Abhisit said the details supplied to the NEB that would be used in categorising whether each of 18 businesses were harmful to human weath were insufficient.
If categorised as hazardous, such businesses needed to undergo environmental impact assessment (EIA) and health impact assessment (HIA) as mandated by the Constitution's Article 67 Paragraph Two.
The premier did not fix a time frame for addition of details, but most members of the NEB said it should take at least another two months.
Mahabir Koder, a member of the Federation of Thai Industries, which was part of the four-party effort to solve the long-standing toxic leak and environmental problems with the Map Ta Phut estate in Rayong province, said the two-month delay would further slow the entire framework for another five to six months.
He said the Supreme Administrative Court was scheduled next month to consider lifting ban on a large number of businesses deemed hazardous to continue their projects. "The delay of the process [caused by Abhisit's order for the review] could be problematic by then," he added.
Dejrat Sukkamnerd, a member of the four-party mechanism, said everyone had no choice but to wait, but said all businesses barred from continue their projects had completed the mandatory EIA and HIA already in the previous months.
Santi Bunprakhab, a senior Natural Resources and Environment Ministry official serving on the government panel in the four-party grand committee, echoed Abhisit over the insufficient information on categorising the 18 types of businesses. He said it would take around two months to compile all details to finalise the 18-business task.
A ministry source said many businesses should be not be deemed hazardous, but it was likely to be opposed to by local residents, not on health hazard-related reasons, but, in some case, the project areas were too large
"The locals who are to join in future public hearing over these projects would vote against them anyway," the source added.
A total of 76 megaprojects relating to the Map Ta Phut estate were ordered by the court to further continue their operations last September after environmental advocacy groups lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court on grounds that none of them underwent mandatory EIA and HIA evaluations.
The court in last December delisted 11 businesss after rulling in favour of their appeals that their operations were either not hazardous to human health or later followed health regulations.