PM urged to examine all pertinent research to ascertain whether a proposal is truly worthwhile.
PUBLISHED: 26 Sep 2024 at 18: 14
The government’s southern Land Bridge megaproject, which the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC ) is proposing to revise, saying it is not worthwhile investing in and could seriously harm the environment and local way of life.
To support its request, the government has cited encouraging results from a number of studies that have been carried out by various state agencies.
According to council member Sayamol Kaiyooongs, it is calling on the PM to instruct the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning ( OTTPP ) and all other relevant government organizations to provide clearer information about the Land Bridge and related projects.
She added that the NHRC hopes to organize enough fresh public hearings in Chumphon, Ranong, and some of the nearby provinces to obtain views from all organizations that might be impacted by the project.
These include local fishermen, producers, those who will face eviction of their property, group tourism businesses, ethnic minorities and displaced people in the above areas, Ms Sayamol said.
Two big ships, one in Chumphon in the Gulf of Thailand and the other in Ranong in the Andaman Sea, would make up the Land Bridge, according to the Pheu Thai-led government’s estimated one trillion baht investment. They will be connected by a new railroad and a fresh bridge, with additional equipment like industrial parks anticipated to pursue.
Former prime minister Srettha Thavisin was a big supporter for the project, sneering out interest from big international companies during his frequent trips during his short phrase.
The NHRC wants the top to ascribe state organisations with experience in assessing the site’s possible impact on the environment, organic resources, fish, agricultural practices, tourism and the traditional way of life in the affected areas to carry out a new study. The results should then be used as inspiration for future job conversations, she said.
The NHRC has looked into more details about the task and been persuaded by it that it would do more harm than good to various parties if the state moves forward with its implementation, she said.
The environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) conducted by the OTTPP, for instance, was not really complete, as affected parties did not have a clear enough overall picture of how the project would affected them once it started, she said.
According to Ms. Sayamol, the lack of quality was brought on by split information that was received from various state organizations at various times.
The EIA did not consider the project’s financial viability in light of the potential negative effects, according to an analysis by the OTTPP.
Ranong was found to be best suited for title as an place for conserving natural resources, according to a separate study conducted in 2016, while the suggested land bridge job was found to be unsuitable for investment, she said.
The previous government was therefore advised by the OTTPP that the project be suspended.