Roads blocked in three areas over separate issues
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More than 500 local residents blocked Suwinthawong Road in Chachoengsao's Muang district yesterday in protest against the ongoing construction of Nakhon Nuang Khet Power Plant.
The blockade paralysed traffic, causing the snarlup that stretched more than 10 kilometres.
The protesters vowed to block this key road until the government clearly announces an immediate stop to construction of the power plant and an environmental impact assessment into the plant.
“We have waited for the conclusion for too long already,” protest leader Manas Sunthornchote said Monday.
He said locals blocked the same road on January 29 for the same reason. They dispersed yesterday, only after government officials stepped in and promised to look into their demands.
Several meetings were held over the past month but no conclusion could be made, as representatives of Nakhon Nuang Khet Power Plant never showed up.
“Construction of the power plant has started without any proper permit from any authority,” Manas insisted. He said the power plant owner simply cited “Alpha Tech” – Alpha Technopolis Industrial Estate – as arranging construction, but the estate went out of business more than a decade ago.
Chachoengsao permanent secretary Sivaroj Mungmaiphon negotiated with the protesters but was unable to persuade them to clear the road.
The Nakhon Nuang Khet Power Plant is a project of Chachoengsao Cogeneration Co Ltd. The company expects the facility to generate 110 megawatts. According to its plan, it will start selling power to EGAT (the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) from February 1, 2013.
In a related development, a dayslong road blockade forced the owner of Chana NaturalGas separation plant to agree yesterday to pay Bt30,000 in annual compensation to each family in areas near the plant. About 150 families will be entitled to this compensation.
Locals in Surat Thani’s Chana district started blocking the road to the Chana Natural Gas Separation Plant last Friday. Locals cited the plant’s impact on their health and nearby environment, demanding Bt30,000 per family per year throughout the plant’s operation.
“During the past few years, our health has deteriorated. Toxic fumes come out of the plant,” Ya Watboonchuay, 63, said. People could no longer use local waterways as they had become polluted.
Meanwhile, a road blockade was also staged in Phitsanulok’s Nakhon Thai district yesterday when more than 150 pineapple farmers protested at the drop in price for their produce.
“The government should pay attention to pineapple prices too. Don’t focus on pay rises for civil servants alone. Last year, we could sell pineapple at Bt5 a kilo. But this year, the pineapple price has come down to just Bt1.8 a kilo,” Ket Buahoon said.
The farmers blocked one lane of the Phitsanulok – Lom Sak road yesterday but threatened to totally block the road if the government paid no attention to their plight.
Nakhon Thai district chief Kraiwich Kairopwimon and Democrat MP Nakhon Machim met with the protesting farmers. Nakhon also promised to raise the issue with the Commerce Ministry, while Kraiwit forwarded the farmers’ written demands to Phitsanulok Governor Preecha Ruangjan.
