PM Abhisit Calls Halt To Khao Yai Road Expansion

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PM calls halt to road expansion

By JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLGRANG,

MAROOT BOONNARUMIT,

PRASIT TANGPRASERT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has slammed the brakes on the controversial project to widen a road running through Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima.

He told reporters during yesterday's recording of his weekly television show "Confident in Thailand with PM Abhisit" at the Irrigation Department that he had directed |the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Transport Ministry to jointly review the project and its effects.

Transport Minster Sophon Saram is preparing to defend the project at the Cabinet's weekly meeting on Tuesday.

Sophon said his ministry and the Highways Department are implementing the project transparently as it would lead to many improvements. He was ready to be inspected by every group, including non-governmental organisations.

Weera Ruangsuksriwong, director-general of the Highways Department, said his department would follow Abhisit's instructions. He would discuss the matter with Sophon by Monday.

He would negotiate with the contractor of the road expansion project about their possible losses, and if the contract had to be cancelled, he would explain the reasons to the contractor to make them agree.

Work has already started on the first 10 kilometres of Thanarat Road. And it has drawn a public outcry because more than 100 big trees along the road had to be felled.

Abhisit said the project would continue only after the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry confirmed that it would not harm the environment there.

He said he was also investigating the need to sacrifice big trees.

However, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said the project was not a big problem. Normally, expanding main roads involved clearing trees and the surrounding area. But overall, authorities should show concern for the public's interest. There would be a resolution for this problem in the end after discussion, he said.

On Friday evening, activists from the foundation for the protection of the Khao Yai National Park, Greenpeace and five other environmental organisations held a press conference near the road to deliver their formal statement against the expansion project.

The statement said the groups called on agencies to immediately halt the project, repair the damage done on the road from km 2-8 and stop any similar cases from occurring in the country in the future. They want authorities to consider mainly the social and environmental impacts before initiating new projects.

Pongthep Kradonchamnan, a well-known song-for-life singer and chairman of the foundation, said tourists who come to Khao Yai do not want a wide road, but look for trees, fresh and cool air and beautiful scenery. They want to park their vehicles under the trees to enjoy a meal or cup of coffee.

"Khao Yai is a World Heritage Site. Widening the road is not the right thing to do. You should reach the heritage site by natural methods," he said.

Ply Pirom from Greenpeace Southeast Asia said the project's public hearing was not transparent as it took only three hours and most people had not been notified about the project.

Later, they received good news when an SMS bulletin reported that the premier had ordered a halt to the project. They looked satisfied and happy.

However, people in Pak Chong district showed their support for the project.

Somsuk Nilungso, a member of the district's Nongnam Daeng Tambon Administration Organi-sation, led 300 locals and shop owners who live and work along the road to issue a statement calling on the Highways Department to rush completion of the project.

They want to prevent accidents possibly caused by the unfinished road construction. They also called for trees to be planted along the road in return for the big ones that had been cut down.

The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has had a policy of limiting attendance at national parks to preserve the environment and wildlife, which seems contradictory to the road expansion project.

-- The Nation 2010-06-06

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[sukhumvitlegend]

Chop the trees down and then check the enviromental damage after. Gotta smile, also noticed it took three of the nations finest journos to create the above. As always, great work!

[gotlost]

PR after the cat got out of the bag.

[rono]

This project is only to fill some pockets, you can easily count the cars using this road, impossible to justify the costs and damage

[mazeltov]

Transport Minster Sophon Saram survived the censure motion vote. He did not so well like the PM himself because he was lacking support from a faction of the government.

Meanwhile Deputy Government Spokesman Prommin Leetheeraprasert of the Puea Pandin Party attacked the Democrat Party and the PM for removing the Puea Pandin Party's factions that voted against some ministers in the censure debate. He said some Puea Pandin MPs voted by adhering to the principle of checking corruption and not to take political revenge.

Poll results also show that the majority supported the MPs saying they have the right to use their own judgement. "The fact that the PM is thinking of the government's stability more than upholding his nine iron rules of good governance has created a sick political culture and this is very ugly. How can Abhisit and Chuan Leekpai preach to the others?'' he said

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...s-30130946.html

[fokus]

To bloody late, its a right mess and all the damage has been done !!!!!!!!

Sad but it needs finishing now.

[Rucharee]

Transport Minster Sophon Saram survived the censure motion vote. He did not so well like the PM himself because he was lacking support from a faction of the government.

Meanwhile Deputy Government Spokesman Prommin Leetheeraprasert of the Puea Pandin Party attacked the Democrat Party and the PM for removing the Puea Pandin Party's factions that voted against some ministers in the censure debate. He said some Puea Pandin MPs voted by adhering to the principle of checking corruption and not to take political revenge.

Poll results also show that the majority supported the MPs saying they have the right to use their own judgement. "The fact that the PM is thinking of the government's stability more than upholding his nine iron rules of good governance has created a sick political culture and this is very ugly. How can Abhisit and Chuan Leekpai preach to the others?'' he said

The politics in this country is a joke.

Reason for halting the project: Will get more vote, and not really for the better of the Thai people.

[marquess]

So little concern is given to the environment here, nice to see that a few trees will be saved at least!

[Rucharee]

The project is now back on track (as usual).

One day after it was halted.

[mazeltov]

Khao Yai risks being removed from world heritage site

BANGKOK, 10 June 2010 (NNT) – Khao Yai national Park may be removed from the world heritage list after the Thanarat road has been widened on the perimeter of the national park, according to the Thai Environment Organization.

The Thai Environment President Surapon Duangkae said that the Transport Department’s project of Thanarat road expansion had proceeded by more than 50%. In such a case, the world heritage committee may reconsider to delist Khao Yai from the world heritage site thereafter.

Khao Yai National Park has been announced as the world heritage site since 14 July 2005, and the government pledged to the world heritage committee not to do anything that affects the Park, while the number of tourists and vehicles would be limited to prevent pollution. All related projects must be studied carefully to minimize the effect on the world heritage site of Khao Yai.

Mr Surapon mentioned that the government should have a concrete measure to solve this problem so that all relevant parties and the people could be confident on such a sensitive matter.

Khao Yai risks being removed from world heritage site : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 10 June 2010