Court delivers blow to govt plans for Mae Wong Dam

The order was given to four accused persons and organisations – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Cabinet, the director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. 
The court ruling came after 151 people, led by Stop Global Warming Association’s president Srisuwan Janya, lodged a complaint against the project. 
The Cabinet approved the project in April 2012, allowing the dam’s construction to proceed if relevant authorities approved the EHIA. 
The planned site for the Mae Wong Dam is located in Nakhon Sawan province.
The complainants turned to the court citing concerns that the government would go ahead with the project before the EHIA was completed. 
Srisuwan said yesterday that according to the ruling the government would have to start the process from the beginning if it wants to build the dam. 
There are concerns that the Mae Wong Dam could seriously affect people’s health and the environment, which means it is subject to constitutional clauses related to public consultations and an EHIA.