Court orders injunction on water plan
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The Central Administrative Court on Thursday ordered the government to complete environmental and health impact assessment reports on projects under the Bt350 billion water-management scheme which are likely to harm the environment and communities.
The court, led by judge Treetod Nikrothangkul, yesterday announced its verdict. It found that the government had failed to hold any public hearings among local residents before proceeding with the water and floodmanagement plan. Moreover, the government did not conduct EIA and EHIA reports to estimate the projects’ potential environmental and health impacts on natural resources and local people’s livelihoods, the court said.
“It is the government’s responsibility to hold public hearings and conduct EIA and HEIA reports. This should not be left to private contractors, who may have a conflict of interest,” the judge said. He added that the court was not convinced that private contractors would strictly comply with the Constitution.
Srisuwan said yesterday that if the government appeals to case to the Supreme Administrative Court, he would ask the court to issue an injunction ordering the government to follow the lower court’s verdict, such as by completing public hearings and EIA and HEIA reports first.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was reportedly concerned on the court's verdict, during her meeting with PM’s Office Ministry permanent secretary Tongthong Chandrangsu and Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi.
