Thaksin marks 61st birthday with Thai peace 'tweets'

29 industrial plants in Map Ta Phut remain suspended at court order

BANGKOK: -- Twenty-nine industrial plants in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in the eastern province of Rayong remain suspended at court order since September last year, a senior Thai government official said Monday.

Tharadol Piampongsarn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, said 29 of a total 76 industrial plants have had their operations suspended following the order of the Central Administrative Court in Rayong on September 29.

Operations at 29 factories could proceed if their proprietors could change their manufacturing processes to comply with Thailand’s more stringent environmental regulations, or if the Thai authorities find a way to leave the restrictions as their investment agreements were made according to earlier, less demanding guidelines.

Currently, 12 of the originally suspended projects have received court permission to continue their operations, while 28 can proceed after receiving a green light from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, while seven other projects decided to back off.

Mr Tharadol said he believed the Ministry of Industry will find ways to assist owners of all 29 suspended projects so that their operations could proceed as several government agencies and the public sector have continued to express concerns regarding the issue, warning that further delays could hamper Thailand’s investment credibility and continued economic growth.

Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat, meanwhile, said he was confident that an ongoing study of 18 categories of industrial projects considered harmful to the environment under Article 67 of the Constitution, ordered earlier by the National Environment Committee, could be completed before year-end.

A four-party panel headed by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun earlier advised the government that 18 categories of projects harm the environment. It also outlined a city plan to solve pollution problems at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-26

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Minor quake hits Mae Hong Son

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A 3.0 magnitude earthquake was reported in Thailand's northern province of Mae Hong Son on Monday evening.

The quake hit Mae Hong Son's Pai District at 18.35 hrs, according to the Meteorological Department.

There have been no reports of damage or casualties. Latest updates on the situation can be found at www.ndwc.go.th or dial National Disaster Warning Center's Call Center 192.

-- NNT 2010-07-26

to be continued

Thailand Live Tuesday 27 July 2010

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