Local community support sought for new phase

The Senate Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Disasters has asked the Transport Ministry and public representatives from Chon Buri province jointly to consider allowing the construction of Phase 3 of the Laem Chabang Port to continue. 

The subcommittee yesterday invited representatives from the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), officials in Chon Buri and members of the local community who oppose certain aspects of the project to discuss their concerns. The latest opposition to the construction of Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 arose after Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan asked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to speed up the project at a mobile Cabinet meeting in Chon Buri on June 17-19.

Subcommittee chairman Paradee Chongsuttanamenee said the PAT, concerned state parties and representatives of the public had already set up a tripartite committee. She wanted it to meet at least once a month to find solutions and alternatives to any problems in the joint operation. The Eastern region covering Chon Buri, Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat and Chachoengsao is targeted for industrial development, which will make use of the port facilities. These industrial areas can be developed in harmony with the needs of tourists only if there is understanding among local people, who will be most directly affected, Paradee said.

Dr Somnuek Chongmewasin, a representative of local residents opposed to the construction of Phase 3 of the port, said the community was not properly consulted on construction phases 1 and 2. As a result, there were a number of unwanted effects on the community and they don’t want this to happen again. Now they are being told that Yingluck wants to speed up Phase 3. 

Somnuek said his community fears that their concerns will not be addressed, even though there is an agreement that everyone will follow the resolutions of the tripartite committee.

Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome, a member of Parliament for Chon Buri, said the province, especially Pattaya, was one of Thailand’s key tourist areas. Accordingly, it is very important that the community’s concerns be addressed before construction on Laem Chabang Phase 3 begins. 

The minister admitted that PAT, the project owner, did not adequately address the local community’s concerns on phases 1 and 2. This time she is urging PAT to resolve any potential problems prior to the start of construction, thereby avoiding the problems encountered in previous phases.

Chalermkiat Salakkham, director of the Laem Chabang Port, said Phase 3 is of vital importance for the country’s logistics strategy. PAT and the Transport Ministry have already agreed to the plan that was outlined in the proposal document. However, PAT will continue to listen to the concerns of the local communities and will make every attempt to resolve any outstanding issues until everyone is in agreement, Chalermkiat said. 

The logistics policy of the project is to connect Laem Chabang Port to the Dawei Industrial Estate in Myanmar. The budget has been set at Bt35 billion and the port will be designed to handle up to 18.8 million containers per year.