Democrat and Future Forward parties want a House panel to assess environmental, social and economic impacts of EEC projects  

 

 

The Democrat and Future Forward parties have separately demanded that the House set up an ad hoc committee to assess the impacts of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) projects on the environment, society and economy of the eastern seaboard.

 

Two separate motions on the same issue, by the two rival parties, were raised for debate in the lower House on Thursday.

 

During the debate, Future Forward party-list MP Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul said, although an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is conducted for each of the projects in the EEC, the special economic zone itself lacks a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for all the projects combined which, she noted, may repeat the same mistake as the Map Ta Pud industrial zone, where the petrochemical industry has caused environmental problems for people living close to the industrial zone.

 

She also questioned whether the government had taken into account the possibility of conflict arising, between the people and the industries in the EEC, over the use of water, or the problem of waste water and industrial waste management, in a way which will not adversely affect the people.

 

“We want to see the government doing its duty and not closing one eye as it promotes and drives development while failing to regulate. We also want to see private sector investors focus on more than profits and abide by the rules and limit their impacts to acceptable levels,” said Ms. Sirikanya.

 

Chachoengsao MP Jirat Thongsuwan, of the Future Forward party, raised concerns about pollution from the change of green zone status, reserved for agriculture, to industrial zone status to accommodate the activities in the EEC.

 

Rayong MP Banyat Jenachan of the Democrat party praised the EEC project which, he said, will stimulate Thailand’s economy through the estimated 1.7 trillion baht in total investments and trigger a massive migration of labour, by both Thais and foreigners, into the eastern region.

 

However, he pointed out that the government has not allocated an appropriate budget to improve infrastructure, such as basic health care and education, in the three eastern provinces of Chachoengsao, Rayong and Chon Buri.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/democrat-and-future-forward-parties-want-a-house-panel-to-assess-environmental-social-and-economic-impacts-of-eec-projects/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-09-06

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17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

She also questioned whether the government had taken into account the possibility of conflict arising, between the people and the industries in the EEC, over the use of water, or the problem of waste water and industrial waste management, in a way which will not adversely affect the people.

I don't know if this was said "tongue-in-cheek" but Prayut established the EEC by invoking Article 44 which allowed the junta to bypass all relevant environmental, anti-corruption laws and regulations and local city planning.

Prayut saw billions of baht from foreign investment in the EEC and that seemed to meet his criteria for development.

This House panel is much deserved and required for security of the Thai people.

Nice pie in the sky that EEC, especially now that China is withdrawing back to it's shell. I do hope they get the train done though, I'd pay a good premium to get to swampy from Patts with it.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Democrat and Future Forward parties have separately demanded that the House set up an ad hoc committee to assess the impacts of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)

The EEC is PM Prayut's pet baby which is close to his heart.

I expect the Democrat and Future Forward parties will get a lot of pleasure and delight by poking a stick in the gorilla's cage.