FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Locals rise up against new Nakhon Nayok town plan

Locals rise up against new Nakhon Nayok town plan

RESIDENTS OF Nakhon Nayok province are fighting against the new town plan because its appendix seeks to allow the establishment of factories in their hometown.

“We want it cancelled,” said Chissanucha Pramuansap, the co-ordinator of the Network of Nakhon Nayok Citizens. 
He said if the new town plan, which had been announced already, went unchallenged, it would take effect from September 2. 
According to Chissanucha, locals of Nakhon Nayok are worried that biomass power plants, cold-storage facilities and industrial waste will spread across their hometown if the new town plan becomes effective. 
“We will have to monitor the progress closely,” he said.
His network yesterday submitted a petition to Niran Pitakwatchara, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), against the new town plan. 
The residents are complaining on the grounds that amendments are being made to their old town plan without allowing public participation. 
Chissanucha said the introduction of the new town plan violated the basic rights of Nakhon Nayok’s residents, who did not receive any information about the changes.
“There was no public hearing at all,” he said.
The network also suspects the new town plan is designed to favour investors, civil servants, local politicians and former local politicians at the expense of the locals.
“The new town plan is also against the Cabinet resolution, passed on February 9, 1999, that designates the whole area of Nakhon Nayok as an ecological-tourist destination,” Chissanucha said. 
Rangsan Padungtham, one of the network’s members, said people who were rising up against the new Nakhon Nayok town plan were locals who would be directly affected by it.
“Nakhon Nayok is an agricultural zone. The fact that the new town plan will allow industrial operations means raised shrimp, crab and fish are at risk of being contaminated,” he said. 
Niran said he would raise the complaint at the NHRC meeting today. 
This Friday, an advisory panel on the new town plan will hold a public forum and explain its ideas.
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