ID :
84173
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 21:11
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/84173
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PM: Draft environment amendment to be submitted to House
BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday his government will amend the environmental law under which a number of industries have been shut down.
He said the revised law will be given to the House of Representatives for debate “either late this month or in early November”, aimed at making the issue more transparent.
Mr. Abhisit’s remarks during his weekly television and radio address Sunday were made in response to the Central Administrative Court injunction September 29 putting 76 industrial projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, the country’s largest, on temporary hold.
The court order came after legal petitions by local residents and NGOs concerned about negative environmental and health impacts from the country’s largest industrial estate.
Mr. Abhisit said both people living in the area and investors should receive sympathy over the court order.
The people have exercised their rights under the Constitution as they have suffered for a long time, he said, while they also fear that their health will deteriorate with more investment in the area.
On the other hand investors worry that the temporary suspension of the projects would affect their planned investment and simultaneously impact their hiring of employees and other firms which they would buy raw materials.
Mr. Abhisit said his government has appealed the court injunction and hopes that the issue could be “settled soon.”
The government has asked for cooperation from the opposition parties to help push the draft law to amend the environmental statement, Article 67 Clause 2 in the 2007 Constitution, to pass the House when it is submitted late this month or early in November, Mr. Abhisit said.
Nonetheless his government will continue to explain to foreign investors the court ruling, he said, as it must be respected.
The government would also explain to the affected residents and hoped that they would better understand the situation, he said, stating that the government will monitor the situation to assure that only minimal effects occur. (TNA)
He said the revised law will be given to the House of Representatives for debate “either late this month or in early November”, aimed at making the issue more transparent.
Mr. Abhisit’s remarks during his weekly television and radio address Sunday were made in response to the Central Administrative Court injunction September 29 putting 76 industrial projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, the country’s largest, on temporary hold.
The court order came after legal petitions by local residents and NGOs concerned about negative environmental and health impacts from the country’s largest industrial estate.
Mr. Abhisit said both people living in the area and investors should receive sympathy over the court order.
The people have exercised their rights under the Constitution as they have suffered for a long time, he said, while they also fear that their health will deteriorate with more investment in the area.
On the other hand investors worry that the temporary suspension of the projects would affect their planned investment and simultaneously impact their hiring of employees and other firms which they would buy raw materials.
Mr. Abhisit said his government has appealed the court injunction and hopes that the issue could be “settled soon.”
The government has asked for cooperation from the opposition parties to help push the draft law to amend the environmental statement, Article 67 Clause 2 in the 2007 Constitution, to pass the House when it is submitted late this month or early in November, Mr. Abhisit said.
Nonetheless his government will continue to explain to foreign investors the court ruling, he said, as it must be respected.
The government would also explain to the affected residents and hoped that they would better understand the situation, he said, stating that the government will monitor the situation to assure that only minimal effects occur. (TNA)
