ID :
105538
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 14:35
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http://m.oananews.org//node/105538
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Four suspended Map Ta Phut projects cancel operations
BANGKOK, Feb 9 (TNA) – Four industrial projects at Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate have cancelled their operations after having been suspended by a Thai court over environmental and health impact concerns, Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungruang said Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists at a news conference in the capital, Mr Charnchai said the government has set up an advisory centre to help operators of suspended Map Ta Phut Industrial projects in the eastern seaboard province of Rayong comply with the Article 67 of the Constitution concerning health and environmental impact assessments.
The centre has given advice to 49 of the 64 overall projects so far.
Four projects cancelled operations, while the suspension of one project was lifted.
The industry ministry is moving to get suspended projects back on track through several channels, the minister said.
Ten projects are not required to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) survey, but will notify the court on measures to minimise the impacts during construction, Mr Charnchai said, adding that four other projects have asked for written confirmation from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to confirm their projects approval before enforcement of the 2007 Constitution, requiring industrial projects to conduct EIA and Heath Impact Assessments (HIA).
The industry minister said nine projects will seek to lift suspensions, based on the same reasons the court applied to reopen 11 industrial projects earlier. Another 16 projects will initially seek permission from the court to continue construction and machine tests.
Mr Charnchai also said the working committee was drafting action plans and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and guidelines for conducting EIA and HIA surveys.
It has already submitted documents to prosecutors to forward to the Administrative Court, requesting approval for 12 projects to continue construction and machinery test runs, the minister said.
Office of the Attorney General senior prosecutor Banyat Wisutthimak said the agency will submit new information for Administrative Court consideration February 15 at latest, otherwise it will cause a loss for each suspended project between 500-2 billion baht each.(TNA)
Speaking to journalists at a news conference in the capital, Mr Charnchai said the government has set up an advisory centre to help operators of suspended Map Ta Phut Industrial projects in the eastern seaboard province of Rayong comply with the Article 67 of the Constitution concerning health and environmental impact assessments.
The centre has given advice to 49 of the 64 overall projects so far.
Four projects cancelled operations, while the suspension of one project was lifted.
The industry ministry is moving to get suspended projects back on track through several channels, the minister said.
Ten projects are not required to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) survey, but will notify the court on measures to minimise the impacts during construction, Mr Charnchai said, adding that four other projects have asked for written confirmation from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to confirm their projects approval before enforcement of the 2007 Constitution, requiring industrial projects to conduct EIA and Heath Impact Assessments (HIA).
The industry minister said nine projects will seek to lift suspensions, based on the same reasons the court applied to reopen 11 industrial projects earlier. Another 16 projects will initially seek permission from the court to continue construction and machine tests.
Mr Charnchai also said the working committee was drafting action plans and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and guidelines for conducting EIA and HIA surveys.
It has already submitted documents to prosecutors to forward to the Administrative Court, requesting approval for 12 projects to continue construction and machinery test runs, the minister said.
Office of the Attorney General senior prosecutor Banyat Wisutthimak said the agency will submit new information for Administrative Court consideration February 15 at latest, otherwise it will cause a loss for each suspended project between 500-2 billion baht each.(TNA)
