New dykes may affect parks
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Operators of industrial parks should be concerned about the environmental and community impact resulting from dyke-construction projects to prevent flooding in Ayutthaya province, say state-run environmental agencies.
Secretary-general of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Supat Wangwongwattana, said his office was considering the effect of dyke-building around seven centres in Ayutthaya province – including the Hi-tech, Rojana, Bang Pa-In, and Nava Nakorn industrial parks.
He said industrial park operators should conduct environmental impact assessment (EIA) and then submit the reports to the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand for approval before going ahead with the building of flood-prevention dykes.
“ONEP is trying to inform the authority about the conditions and regulations industrial park operators need for an EIA for dyke-construction projects,” Supat said.
He said dykes were needed urgently by the operators of the seven industrial parks that were inundated during the flooding last year. They must be built within five months, before the rainy season.
However, Supat conceded that his agency could not identify a clear environmental impact that would result from the dyke construction.
“ I haven’t seen any details about this project yet,” he said, adding his office would monitor the environmental impact of the finished dykes. Supat also expressed concern over dyke construction along the Chao Phraya which, he said, could affect water flow and levels.
The Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Park has proposed a Bt1-billion dyke construction project over eight kilometres around its premises. But the Industrial Ministry has said it will study the appropriateness of the project as dykes to prevent flooding were installed around the park several years ago.
