approves Bt877 million to resolve Map Ta Phut problem

BANGKOK, Dec 1 (TNA) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to conduct five urgent projects to resolve the Map Ta Phut industrial estate environmental problem from 2010-2012 with a budget of 877 million baht.

The five projects include garbage management, piped water shortages, hospital expansion, and establishment of a health surveillance unit.

The ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court set on Wednesday on the suspension of the 76 projects at the country’s biggest industrial estate is unpredictable.

The prime minister said it is at the discretion of the court. If it upholds the injunction of the Central Administrative Court in September to order suspension of operations for 76 industrial project at the industrial project in Rayong, the government will proceed with the case in the legal system.

But if the Supreme Administrative Court overturns the ruling of the Central Administrative Court, all projects will be forwarded to undergo processes to be supervised by a joint independent committee of four parties, Mr Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said the 877 million baht will be used to move garbage from the dump site in Map Ta Phut municipality to somewhere else agreed by local residents in that area.

The money will be spent of development of a piped water and heath care system in Rayong. Map Ta Phut Hospital will be upgraded to a 200-bed hospital and mobile medical units and medical check-ups will be provided to local residents in pollution control zones in Rayong.

The committee, chaired by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun to help resolve the conflict, are working to find measures to push the assessment of the 76 industrial projects forward under the constitution. (TNA)