People to fight AoT over noise pollution

The association or SGWA will today represent 406 people in lodging another complaint against the Airports of Thailand (AoT), which operates the Suvarnabhumi Airport.
“AoT has violated the rights of people,” SGWA president Srisuwan Janya said yesterday, adding that people living in the area could no longer tolerate the noise pollution from the airport, which now services up to 52 million passengers each year. The environmental impact assessment for Suvarnabhumi Airport only showed measures to deal with up to 45 million passengers.
Srisuwan said the residents had vowed to fight “with their blood” against the airport’s capacity-upgrading plan.
“The locals have already planned retaliatory measures. They won’t reveal everything, as some moves are against the law. But I can tell you that releasing balloons is a measure residents are preparing,” he said.
He added that the locals would not let Suvarnabhumi Airport to upgrade its capacity because that would mean a higher number of flights/passengers and more serious noise pollution.
Srisuwan said his association had already helped 1,075 residents get compensation because the noise pollution between 11pm and 5am was affecting their sleep. The airport began operating commercially in 2006, and has been growing very quickly, with its number of passengers and flights increasing significantly.
On September 25, the SGWA stepped in to assist 379 people lodge a complaint against the AoT, and more locals joined in later bringing the number of complaints up to 406. The complaints have been lodged with the Central Administrative Court.
“These 406 people live in communities north of the airport, and their lives are very badly affected,” Srisuwan said.
Apart from loud noise, the airport’s operation is also hampering telephone and television signals.
Some of these 406 people have already received compensation, but are demanding more because the flights are becoming more frequent. Other residents refused to take compensation because they believed the amount was far too low.
Srisuwan added that another 300 to 400 people living along Kingkaew Road were also planning to lodge complaints against the AoT. “Residents have come forward because they want to see organisations limit the number of passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport and offer proper remedial action for people affected by the airport,” he said.
He said AoT earned huge revenues from the airport, which now services more than 470,000 flights a year, but is doing nothing to show responsibility for affected people.