Lamphun study aims to deliver ecologically friendly plan
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- A JOINT research study by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) is underway in an attempt to improve conditions at various industrial estates in Lamphun while also tackling environmental issues.

At a recent press conference, TRF director Prof Suthipun Jitpimolmard said the research would deliver an ecologically friendly development plan titled "Eco Industrial Town in Lamphun a Role Model for Other Provinces to Follow".

Unlike surrounding provinces where stricter regulations against unfriendly industrial operations were in place, the regulations in Lamphum were less strict although most factories there were not overly hazardous.

Employing locals at the factories in the province has changed their way of life culturally as well as economically and ecologically.

There are three minor projects under the TRF-funded research: a development plan to transform industrial towns in the North into so-called eco-industrial towns; a capacity-building scheme for communities, local administrative bodies and small-time industrial estates; and a scheme to further balance ecological and economical needs in the North by turning destinations into eco-industrial towns. The research is being conducted with the help of four tambon municipalities in Lamphun: Ban Klang, Makhue Jae, Wing Yong and Muang Nga.

Those municipalities are home to many industrial estates that mostly produce electronics and computer parts.

The research is also being assisted by Lamphum provincial authorities and the IEAT provincial office.

IEAT governor Veerapong Chaiperm said the research was expected to meet a set of improved IEAT criteria that included the estates being located in appropriate areas with regard to the welfare of nearby communities, and delivering a higher safety and ecological standard.

Also included, Veerapong said, were better economic aspects for communities from the tambon to province level; better welfare and living conditions for factory staff and nearby residents; and clearer problem-solving patterns for the staff and nearby communities.

He said the research's key objectives also included enabling the estates to better understand residents and to grant greater and easier access to them when it comes to joint problem-solving as a result of those estates causing problems to the residents on economic, ecological and environmental grounds.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Lamphun-study-aims-to-deliver-ecologically-friendl-30252620.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-25

Maybe Thailand needs something like the USEPA or the UKs EA, but it would need to be free from "influence" and corruption. Come on Mr PM make it happen, you have the power.