ID :
150477
Sat, 11/20/2010 - 14:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/150477
The shortlink copeid
PM visits Map Ta Phut to review progress in solutions to environmental problem
RAYONG, Nov 20 -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday morning visited Map Ta Phut in the eastern province of Rayong to inspect progress toward resolving environmental problems in Map Ta Phut and neighbouring areas.
During the visit, an activist group submitted a letter to the premier urging his government to renew its efforts to resolve the pollution and waster-disposal challenges emitted by industrial factories particularly in eastern Thailand.
Members of the Eastern People’s Network handed the letter to Mr Abhisit while he visited and heard complaints lodged by more than 500 petitioners about the government‘s decision to shorten the list of harmful industrial activities in the country in September this year.
The National Environment Board (NEB) had shortened the list from 18 harmful industrial activities to 11 amid dissatisfaction expressed by a four-party committee headed by former premier Anand Panyarachun. Mr Abhisit said earlier that the government’s priority was not the list but studying buffer zones and determining the level of toxic discharge absorption in local communities.
The decision led to an outcry from residents of Rayong’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate but nonetheless the premier received a warm welcome from industrial entrepreneurs whose projects were temporary stalled earlier due to complaints over the pollution problem and protests by people living in the area.
Reasserting that his government is more quickly resolving pollution in Map Ta Phut, Mr Abhisit said there are still three to four problems, including garbage collection and disposal, persisted in the area and “most importantly on enforcing the law”.
“Some (industrial) operators don’t obey the law,” Mr Abhisit told officials and people during the meeting, adding that it would be wrong to allow these operators to continue illegal businesses.
Mr Abhisit later presided over the opening of a piped water supply system to Map Ta Phut residents who were earlier affected by the pollution problem. The water supply will help more than 49,000 households in the area to receive clean water. (MCOT online news)
During the visit, an activist group submitted a letter to the premier urging his government to renew its efforts to resolve the pollution and waster-disposal challenges emitted by industrial factories particularly in eastern Thailand.
Members of the Eastern People’s Network handed the letter to Mr Abhisit while he visited and heard complaints lodged by more than 500 petitioners about the government‘s decision to shorten the list of harmful industrial activities in the country in September this year.
The National Environment Board (NEB) had shortened the list from 18 harmful industrial activities to 11 amid dissatisfaction expressed by a four-party committee headed by former premier Anand Panyarachun. Mr Abhisit said earlier that the government’s priority was not the list but studying buffer zones and determining the level of toxic discharge absorption in local communities.
The decision led to an outcry from residents of Rayong’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate but nonetheless the premier received a warm welcome from industrial entrepreneurs whose projects were temporary stalled earlier due to complaints over the pollution problem and protests by people living in the area.
Reasserting that his government is more quickly resolving pollution in Map Ta Phut, Mr Abhisit said there are still three to four problems, including garbage collection and disposal, persisted in the area and “most importantly on enforcing the law”.
“Some (industrial) operators don’t obey the law,” Mr Abhisit told officials and people during the meeting, adding that it would be wrong to allow these operators to continue illegal businesses.
Mr Abhisit later presided over the opening of a piped water supply system to Map Ta Phut residents who were earlier affected by the pollution problem. The water supply will help more than 49,000 households in the area to receive clean water. (MCOT online news)
