Fight against industrial estate goes
The battle launched by some 400 Rayong residents against the establishment of an industrial estate in their hometown has shown some progress, with the Rayong Administrative Court agreeing to hold a hearing on their complaints yesterday.
A total of 386 residents from Rayong’s Bang Khai district submitted a petition to the court via the Stop Global Warming Association and the Eastern People’s Network demanding that the establishment of Rayong Industrial Estate (Bang Khai) be scrapped.
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) board announced last April that it was setting up this industrial estate. The complainants also want this announcement to be cancelled.
They accused the IEAT, its board and IRPC of coming up with questionable environmental impact assessment and health impact assessment reports for the project.
“Locals have been fighting against the establishment of the estate all along, yet the work continues,” SGWA president Srisuwan Janya said.
About 80 of the complainants were in court yesterday.
In the affidavit submitted to court, the complainants expressed concern that the new industrial estate would take water resources away from local farmers, pollute the environment and deprive local communities of the chance to develop their neighbourhood as a tourist attraction.
They demanded that the accused parties proceed in line with Clause 2 of the Constitution’s Section 67, which calls for proper impact assessments for projects that might have a serious impact on the environment and natural resources. The complainants also want a Strategic Environmental Assessment to be conducted.
An IRPC representative told the court yesterday that the allegations against her company were groundless.
The court will issue a verdict on the case on August 31.
