Court nods for 11 Map Ta Phut projects, 65 others suspended

BANGKOK, 2 December 2009 (NNT) – The Supreme Administrative Court has resolved to permit the operations of 11 out of 76 Map Ta Phut industrial projects previously suspended by the court’s injunction.

According to the court’s ruling, the operations of the remaining 65 projects are still suspended in compliance with the Administrative Court’s order in September. The Supreme Administrative Court’s deliberation came after state agencies and private firms of 76 projects in Map Ta Phut industrial state appealed against the injunction.

On 28 September, the Administrative Court gave the injunction after relevant environmental agencies and local residents in the industrial estate had filed a complaint with the court seeking an emergency hearing and an injunction to temporarily suspend all 76 planned projects at Map Ta Phut industrial estate due to mounting concerns over the environmental effects and the people’s health problems.

The government then requested the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court for the revocation of the injunction, claiming that all the investment projects have passed the health and environment assessment test as required by the constitution.