Trump Roasts Harris and Other Prominent Figures at Al Smith Charity Dinner

[Lite Beer]

Court order on Klity Creek 'ignored'
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PCD 'doing little to rehabilitate area'; expert says creek prone to lead contamination, urges locals to relocate

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has violated a court order for it to lay down a rehabilitation plan quickly for the lead-contaminated Klity Creek, the director of the Karen Studies and Development Centre told a seminar yesterday.

"The order requiring the PCD to produce a rehabilitation plan in 90 days was issued by the Supreme Administrative Court in early 2013," Surapong Kongchantuk said. "But so far, I have not seen any clear plans from the PCD."

The department, however, firmly denies this allegation.

Surapong was speaking at a seminar titled "Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Areas Contaminated by Mining Operations: Actions Taken in Response to the Supreme Administrative Court's Order for the Rehabilitation of Klity Creek". The forum was organised jointly by different institutes and was held at Chulalongkorn University.

Klity Creek, in Kanchanaburi province, is badly contaminated and is threatening the health of locals, many of whom have taken the case to the Administrative Court.

PCD representative Somchai Songkrakob told the seminar that the department had submitted a 2013-2016 rehabilitation plan to the Administrative Court's Legal Execution Office. The department had also commissioned Khon Kaen University to conduct a study on how best to rehabilitate the creek.

"The research is ongoing," he said.

Soros Chotewijit from the Legal Execution Office said the PCD had collected water samples from the creek and trapped contaminated sediments.

He also argued that the creek had mining potential and naturally had higher levels of lead.

Kannikar Medhanavyn, a scientist at the Mineral Resources Department, said areas with mining potential were not suitable for inhabitation.

"Wouldn't it be better if the locals relocate somewhere else nearby while the rehabilitation efforts are ongoing? At the new site, they would have access to safe usable water," she said.

Local residents, however, were strongly opposed to this idea, saying they wanted to live in their own homes.

"My ancestors have lived here for generations. How can I leave now?" said Kamthorn Nasuansuwan, a Klity Creek resident.

Surapong also slammed the PCD's move to hire Khon Kaen University to work on the rehabilitation plan. "The university's team has never visited the area," he said.

Dr Tanapon Phenrat, a lecturer at Naresuan University's faculty of engineering, said efficient laws should be put in place to prevent problems from mining industries.

"Preventive measures are better," he said. "It is very difficult to rehabilitate affected areas later."

Supaporn Malailoy, manager of Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for the Wants (EnLAW) Foundation, voiced concern about new minerals-related laws planned by the current regime. The Council of State is reviewing this Minerals Bill, which has already been approved by the Cabinet.

"This law will make it easier for entrepreneurs to get permission to operate mines. I am afraid that this may put many locals in trouble," she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Court-order-on-Klity-Creek-ignored-30249743.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-13

[aussieinthailand]

"Areas with mining potential were not suitable for inhabitation" What a load of BULL!!!

Maybe these guy's should have a look at Kalgoorlie mine sight, People been living and working there for years.

Seems the PCD just don't want to do the job, fine, get out and let some one who knows how to do it...

Mining issues are popping up a lot lately, think the powers that be should take action on it.

[Rumble]

Possibly because in the past we could do what we like, how we like, and when we like. and its very difficult for many people to accept this change in policy. the only alternative is to let them learn through their pockets.

[soalbundy]

Thought that was the name of a porno star at first

[ratcatcher]

Thought that was the name of a porno star at first

Sounds like you too have a dirty mine.

[Bluespunk]

"Wouldn't it be better if the locals relocate somewhere else nearby while the rehabilitation efforts are ongoing? At the new site, they would have access to safe usable water," she said."

No.

What would be easier is for you to do your <deleted> job and stop blaming those who are suffering because of the incompetence and indifference of the mining interests.

Yourself included.

[Krataiboy]

Big business clearly has the ear of the new regime, whereas ordinary working people and the general public are being increasingly sidelined.

Pop your head above the parapet by criticising the unelected elite now running the country and you may well end up in custody.

Dare to oppose a development project that may be a hazard to public health and you run the risk of being "disappeared" or silenced by a hired killer.

If this is what the generals meant by achieving Thai-style" democracy, they can keep it.

[soalbundy]

Thought that was the name of a porno star at first

Sounds like you too have a dirty mine.

I'm just a normal run of the mill pervert

[Bluespunk]

Big business clearly has the ear of the new regime, whereas ordinary working people and the general public are being increasingly sidelined.

Pop your head above the parapet by criticising the unelected elite now running the country and you may well end up in custody.

Dare to oppose a development project that may be a hazard to public health and you run the risk of being "disappeared" or silenced by a hired killer.

If this is what the generals meant by achieving Thai-style" democracy, they can keep it.

Nothing to do with current govt as this debacle has been on going for years now. Tell me, who was in power when this order was supposed to be implemented within 9 months.

Not that it matters.

This is all to do with the financial power, incompetance and indifference of the mining companies to the environment and those living around their mines.

This is all about corruption and greed.

Not politics.

[ratcatcher]

Thought that was the name of a porno star at first

Sounds like you too have a dirty mine.

I'm just a normal run of the mill pervert

Indeed, and in this case it looks like " the run of the mill" ended up in Klity creek and poisoned the water..

[Mudcrab]

"Areas with mining potential were not suitable for inhabitation" What a load of BULL!!!

Maybe these guy's should have a look at Kalgoorlie mine sight, People been living and working there for years.

Seems the PCD just don't want to do the job, fine, get out and let some one who knows how to do it...

Mining issues are popping up a lot lately, think the powers that be should take action on it.

Ah, the good old days - when the Eastern Goldfields Senior High School would close and everyone sent home when the wind blew from the right direction and the dust from the slag heaps would blanket Kal in a smog that would have challenged the 'Pea Soupers' in London from yesteryear.

God knows how many people went on to develop serious health problems over the 100 years or so before they dug the super pit.

[mrfill]

Big business clearly has the ear of the new regime, whereas ordinary working people and the general public are being increasingly sidelined.

Pop your head above the parapet by criticising the unelected elite now running the country and you may well end up in custody.

Dare to oppose a development project that may be a hazard to public health and you run the risk of being "disappeared" or silenced by a hired killer.

If this is what the generals meant by achieving Thai-style" democracy, they can keep it.

Nothing to do with current govt as this debacle has been on going for years now. Tell me, who was in power when this order was supposed to be implemented within 9 months.

Not that it matters.

This is all to do with the financial power, incompetance and indifference of the mining companies to the environment and those living around their mines.

This is all about corruption and greed.

Not politics.

There's a difference?