Report Push for Review of Deep-Sea Port Reports Amid Criticism

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Academics and activists are urging a halt and review of reports on the Ranong and Chumphon deep-sea ports, key components of Thailand's flagship land bridge project. A petition featuring 74 signatures calls for the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to suspend public hearings scheduled this week, where Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) reports are set for local review.

 

The concerned group has identified 11 significant issues undermining the reports' trustworthiness, noting that these concerns have not been sufficiently addressed in prior hearings. The planned ports are located at Ranong's Cape Ao Ang and Chumphon's Laem Riw Cape.

 

Critics argue that the environmental reports cover only a five-kilometre radius, excluding crucial areas such as Koh Phayam island. Additionally, the reports do not consider the potential impact on Thailand’s quest for World Heritage status for its coastal mangrove forests in regions like Ranong, Phangnga, and Phuket.

 

Issues were also raised regarding the evaluation criteria used for site selection, which allegedly give disproportionate weight to economic and engineering factors over social and environmental concerns. The absence of studies on the 6,900-rai land reclamation's impact on coastal erosion and marine ecosystems is a major point of contention.

 

The activists stress that the EHIA reports overlook vital aspects like the livelihood of the Moken sea people and the local eco-tourism industry, both significant income sources for area residents. The reports similarly lack disaster risk assessments, which are essential for areas prone to tsunamis and storms.

 

Moreover, the group criticises the limited scope and time allocated for public forums, which excluded many affected communities. By pushing forward with the hearings despite these report flaws, the stakeholders argue, the OTP risks overlooking crucial community concerns.

 

A study by Chulalongkorn University had previously raised doubts about the financial viability of the ports, a finding not revisited in the EHIA reports. This has led to further calls for a comprehensive review before proceeding with subsequent hearings.

 

In response, Punya Chupanit, director of the OTP, highlighted that EHIA reports integrated public feedback through community engagement. He assured that compensation would be provided to affected groups, including local fishermen, and emphasised job opportunities within the project allowing locals to remain with their families without seeking work elsewhere.

 

As tensions rise over these contentious developments, the call for suspension and further examination of the EHIA reports continues to gather momentum, reflecting wider concerns over the balance between development and environmental stewardship in Thailand’s ambitious infrastructural projects.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-06