Deputy ministers meet Songkhla locals opposed to huge industrial estate
Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat visited Songkhla province on Monday to hear complaints from residents over a controversial industrial estate project.
The two politicians gathered feedback on the Jana Industrial Estate from people living in Baan Suan Kong in Jana district. They also met with the Jana Ruk Thin Network of local activists opposed to the project.
Thammanat said residents’ comments would be collected and sent to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan before being considered by the Cabinet.
On December 10, the Jana Ruk Thin Network camped out near Government House in Bangkok, calling for the planned project to be halted until a thorough environmental assessment is carried out. It also accuses the government of rushing the decision to approve the project to benefit a private company that had donated several million baht to the Palang Pracharath Party, the core member of the ruling coalition.
Managed by TPI Polene and IRPC, Jana Industrial Estate will cover 16,700 rai (2,672 hectares) in three subdistricts of Jana district – Sakom, Taling Chan and Na Thap. It will be the largest industrial estate project in the South and thus have significant impacts on surrounding communities, especially on environmental and marine resources.