ID :
140493
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 21:19
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http://m.oananews.org//node/140493
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Thai Court allows 74 Map Ta Phut industrial projects to resume operation
BANGKOK, Sept 2 - Thailand's Central Administrative Court on Thursday ruled that 74 of 76 industrial projects at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate suspended last year could resume operation.
Two other projects accused of harmful activities to the environment remain suspended -- an ethylene plant operated by TOC Glycol Co, a unit of PTT Chemical Plc and a vinyl chloride monomer project owned by Thai Plastic & Chemical Plc.
The Central Administrative Court on September 29 last year ordered 76 industrial projects at Map Ta Phut industrial estate, about 180km southeast of Bangkok, to temporarily halt operating for their failure to pass the environmental and health impact assessments as required by Article 67 of Thailand's Constitution.
The court's decision on September 29 came after Stop Global Warming Association and 43 Map Ta Phut residents had filed a complaint with the court August last year to seek an emergency hearing and an injunction to put on hold all projects at the industrial zone.
Some of the projects, however, have been allowed to resume operations by the Central and Supreme Administrative Courts.
The complaint of local residents and the environment agency was directed against eight members of the National Environment Board (NEB), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and several ministers, claiming they had failed to properly issue operating licenses at Map Ta Phut, and their approval was benefiting investors doing business in the pollution control zone.
A four-party panel headed by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun advised the government and submitted to NEB that 18 categories of projects were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67, while outlining a city plan to solve the pollution problems at the Map Ta Phut cases.
The study of such 18 types of industrial projects, ordered by the National Environment Committee, was completed last Monday by the NEB with the list narrowed down to 11 activities considered harmful to the environment. The list was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, two days ahead the court verdict.
Such the projects include the expansion of petrochemical industry, airport runway, all kinds of mining, dams and power plants.
The 11 types are now awaiting to be finalised as harmful activities in a ministerial regulation by Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, expected this week, as said by Environment Minister, Suwit Khunkitti. (MCOT online news)
Two other projects accused of harmful activities to the environment remain suspended -- an ethylene plant operated by TOC Glycol Co, a unit of PTT Chemical Plc and a vinyl chloride monomer project owned by Thai Plastic & Chemical Plc.
The Central Administrative Court on September 29 last year ordered 76 industrial projects at Map Ta Phut industrial estate, about 180km southeast of Bangkok, to temporarily halt operating for their failure to pass the environmental and health impact assessments as required by Article 67 of Thailand's Constitution.
The court's decision on September 29 came after Stop Global Warming Association and 43 Map Ta Phut residents had filed a complaint with the court August last year to seek an emergency hearing and an injunction to put on hold all projects at the industrial zone.
Some of the projects, however, have been allowed to resume operations by the Central and Supreme Administrative Courts.
The complaint of local residents and the environment agency was directed against eight members of the National Environment Board (NEB), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and several ministers, claiming they had failed to properly issue operating licenses at Map Ta Phut, and their approval was benefiting investors doing business in the pollution control zone.
A four-party panel headed by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun advised the government and submitted to NEB that 18 categories of projects were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67, while outlining a city plan to solve the pollution problems at the Map Ta Phut cases.
The study of such 18 types of industrial projects, ordered by the National Environment Committee, was completed last Monday by the NEB with the list narrowed down to 11 activities considered harmful to the environment. The list was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, two days ahead the court verdict.
Such the projects include the expansion of petrochemical industry, airport runway, all kinds of mining, dams and power plants.
The 11 types are now awaiting to be finalised as harmful activities in a ministerial regulation by Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, expected this week, as said by Environment Minister, Suwit Khunkitti. (MCOT online news)
