|
11.10.09 PM: Draft environment amendment to be submitted to House
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday his government will
amend the environmental law under which a number of industries have
been shut down.
He said the revised law will be given to the House of
Representatives for debate “either late this month or in early
November”, aimed at making the issue more transparent.
Mr.
Abhisit’s remarks during his weekly television and radio address Sunday
were made in response to the Central Administrative Court injunction
September 29 putting 76 industrial projects in the Map Ta Phut
industrial estate, the country’s largest, on temporary hold.
The
court order came after legal petitions by local residents and NGOs
concerned about negative environmental and health impacts from the
country’s largest industrial estate.
Mr. Abhisit said both people living in the area and investors should receive sympathy over the court order.
The
people have exercised their rights under the Constitution as they have
suffered for a long time, he said, while they also fear that their
health will deteriorate with more investment in the area.
On the other hand investors worry that the temporary suspension of
the projects would affect their planned investment and simultaneously
impact their hiring of employees and other firms which they would buy
raw materials.
Mr. Abhisit said his government has appealed the court injunction and hopes that the issue could be “settled soon.”
The government has asked for cooperation from the opposition parties
to help push the draft law to amend the environmental statement,
Article 67 Clause 2 in the 2007 Constitution, to pass the House when it
is submitted late this month or early in November, Mr. Abhisit said.
Nonetheless his government will continue to explain to foreign investors the court ruling, he said, as it must be respected.
The
government would also explain to the affected residents and hoped that
they would better understand the situation, he said, stating that the
government will monitor the situation to assure that only minimal
effects occur. (TNA)
Source: TNA, 11.10.09
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=12236
| |
