Tension mounts as Phuket high-voltage power line plan sparks protest
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The residents called on Governor Nisit to prevent the high-voltage power lines from being installed through their village.

PHUKET: -- More than 200 residents from Thepkrasattri massed at Provincial Hall on Friday (May 15) to plea to the Phuket Governor to stave off having high-voltage power lines installed in their neighbourhood.

The residents learned of the plan to install high-voltage cables when Phuket Electricity Authority (PEA) workers arrived at their their village to locate suitable sites for the pylons, explained Natcha Ungamnauypon, a lawyer representing the villagers.

“The officers inspected the area for several days, but didn’t explain to anyone what they were doing,” he said.

“Then we got a letter asking us to join a meeting about this, but we felt [at the meeting] that the decision had already been made.”

The villagers’ plea, filed as a formal request to Governor Nisit Jansomwong, questioned the PEA’s process in carrying out its high-power project.

“Did the PEA give us a choice?” Mr Natcha asked. “Couldn’t the PEA to install these pylons elsewhere?

“We do not want to be forced out of our homes, but if these pylons are installed we will have to move.”

An official at Provincial Hall received the request on behalf of Gov Nisit, and assured that he would receive it.

The US National Cancer Institute notes that several early epidemiological studies raised the possibility of an association between certain cancers, especially childhood cancers, and electromagnetic fields created by high-voltage power cables.

However, most subsequent studies have not shown such an association, the NCI reports.(see here)

“But scientists have continued to investigate the possibility that one exists,” says the NCI.

Mr Natcha confirmed to The Phuket News today that he had yet to hear of any formal response from Provincial Hall regarding the villagers’ plight.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/tension-mounts-as-phuket-high-voltage-power-line-plan-sparks-protest-52373.php

-- Phuket News 2015-05-18

I was always wondered this in Koh Keaw near the British school where literally hundreds of nice houses (3-5m baht range) built under the power lines and they even have a children's playground and park exactly under the high voltage cables...

The villagers certainly seem amped up by the current plan, perhaps the govt. underestimated the potential resistance this would spark.

They could rectify the situation by generating some anodyne alternating plans that circuit the areas and switch back to positive ground...

Piss poor planning for a start , notwithstanding that , you never run high voltage power lines over the top of any construction , you either go around or bulldoze, one wonders about Thailand such a simple thing as this and they cannot get it right , 9 metres separation on the boundaries of the power line path is another requirement, well it for some and no access unless authorised down the inspection road , all this ensures that any failure of the line , nobody is in danger, still it is Thailand.

The villagers certainly seem amped up by the current plan, perhaps the govt. underestimated the potential resistance this would spark.

They could rectify the situation by generating some anodyne alternating plans that circuit the areas and switch back to positive ground...

I'm sure that the resistance that has been sparked by this flow of information at the current time will only amp up the voltage of dispute, even then they are poles apart!

The villagers certainly seem amped up by the current plan, perhaps the govt. underestimated the potential resistance this would spark.

They could rectify the situation by generating some anodyne alternating plans that circuit the areas and switch back to positive ground...

I'm sure that the resistance that has been sparked by this flow of information at the current time will only amp up the voltage of dispute, even then they are poles apart!

That's a serious charge but sometimes the truth hertz.

It's shocking but smoothing this will take capacitance for understanding (something in short supply) and connecting with the locals. This will have to come in phases after conducting the proper studies in a neutral venue as an overload in demand could amplify any issues and be terminal.

Another bad Phuket News article geezzzzzzzzzzz