Guard against ills of industrialisation, govt told

A network of 30 civic groups yesterday called on the government to give higher priority to environmental protection after finding that many communities near industrial areas around the country have been living with pollution for two decades.
“Just a few people benefit but a lot of people have been suffering from industrial pollution in the past 20 years,” said Somboon Srikhamdokkhae, president of the Network of Workers Suffering from Occupational Illness of Thailand.
Somboon, a former textile worker who contracted lung disease from lengthy exposure to dust from cotton processing, was speaking at a public seminar on “20 years of Industrial Pollution in Thailand: Problem and management” organised by the Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand Foundation and its allies.
Many people are now sick because of industrial activities and no responsibility has been shown by investors or manufacturers to help workers and communities living in proximity to industrial zones, she said.
Thailand had intensively developed its industrial base during the past two decades. Massive quantities of chemical substances that cause pollution have been extensively used by manufacturers. Hazardous waste that attacks the environment such as wastewater and air pollution has been released by power plants and factories, she added.
Penchom Saetang, director of Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand, said the environmental problems caused by industrial development have surfaced widely across the country and created conflicts among communities and companies.
The government should pay more attention to the ills of industrial development by not supporting plants that are harmful to people’s health and pollute nearby communities.
The government should design an industrial policy that protects biodiversity and food security by not allowing factories to be located in food banks, forests and fishing areas.
State agencies must respect community rights to determination over local natural resource management, he added.
Rattana Sangmanee, a representative from Nong Sang village in Saraburi, which was affected by a power plant, said he wants the government to declare areas that are particularly environmentally sensitive as environmental protection zones.
The government should allow villagers to join with local state agencies in drawing up master plans that address environmental impacts.
The environmental impact assessment process must be reformed. People must be allowed to participate in the process.
Patcharee Jityen, a resident of Map Ta Phut in Rayong, said state environmental watchdog agencies must strictly control manufacturers so that they do not issue polluting substances and hazardous waste into the environment.
The government also must reveal all information related to the types of chemical substances that have been used in the manufacturing process.
Surachai Trongngam of the Environmental Law Centre said state agencies should reform legal procedures for more fairness to the victims of industrial development and provide them reasonable compensation.