The government should strictly implement the Industry Ministry's list of industrial activities with serious environmental impacts as a way to ease the Map Ta Phut conflict and allow some of the 76 planned industrial projects in the area to proceed, a business group said yesterday.
"Most of the 76 projects are not on the list. Therefore, according to the Constitution's Article 67, they should be able to continue their investment plan," Santi Vilassakdanont, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said yesterday.
The list, approved by Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng on September 14, contains large fuel-driven power plants and nuclear power plants.
These projects are to be subject to health-impact assessment (HIA) and the consent of the yet-to-be-established independent environment body, but the list has not yet been implemented, Santi said.
However, Industry Ministry permanent secretary Witoon Simachokedee yesterday insisted the list was now effective.
Santi said strict implementation of the list was one of the proposals to be submitted to the Public-Private Partnership meeting today, at which Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will brainstorm proposals to ease the dispute.
The FTI chief will also suggest state agencies clarify and interpret Article 67 in a streamlined direction, or else it would create further confusion among manufacturers. If investors see no way out, they will be encouraged to leave Thailand.
Moreover, the authorities must also complete environmental laws and regulations, including HIA guidelines, as soon as possible, he added.
Tomorrow, Abhisit will also call for a meeting with key ministries involved in the industrial development of Map Ta Phut, in order to mobilise options ahead of the Central Administrative Court's verdict on the case.
The premier insisted the government was facilitating industrial development but said it also needed to take into account the public outcry over planned projects.
Also be discussed at tomorrow's meeting is the establishment of the independent environmental body under Article 67 of the charter.
Speaking at a seminar yesterday, Niran Pitakwatchara, a National Human Rights Commission member, praised the court's injunction, saying it had proved local communities' rights, health issues and basic human rights were recognised and protected under the new Constitution.
He said environmental issues and how people would likely be affected should be the first concerns for the authorities in granting approvals to industrial projects.
Niran added that a public hearing would be held next Tuesday at Thammasat University's Faculty of Law to discuss the issue, with all parties invited.
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