Protests in Kalasin over exploration project
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Some 300 residents in Kalasin's Tha Khantho district rallied outside city hall Tuesday to object against Apico (Korat) Co Ltd's petroleum exploration project in Na Tan sub-district over fears of adverse effects on health and the agriculture industry.
The group told deputy governor Sirirat Chum-upakan that other communities had been affected by gas-drilling such as Ban Kud Namsai in Khon Kaen’s Nam Phong district, Ban Sai Thong in Kalasin’s Huay Mek district and Ban Na Lhao in Udon Thani’s Non Sa-at district. Sirirat promised to pass the complaint onto the Energy Ministry’s Department of Mineral Fuels and to Apico.
Claiming the company didn’t explain the impacts the project would have on them, the group also claimed that Apico had agreed on September 3 to suspend the exploration project pending an environment and health-impact assessment report and public forum, but has failed to do either.
The Nation
