webfact Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Rayong residents worry EEC will come with empty promises By KHANATHIT SRIHIRUNDAJ THE NATION File photo: Rayong RAYONG RESIDENTS have raised concerns about pollution and the empty promises that the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project might bring. Their concerns, they said yesterday, were based on the lesson they learned from the Eastern Seaboard Development programme more than 30 years ago. “When the Eastern Seaboard initiative came to our hometown, the locals were promised that they would get free fertiliser from a plant that was being built for the agriculture sector. “Yet we have received no free fertiliser so far,” said Utai Sornlaksap, chair of the Rubber Network Council and the Rubber Farmers Institute of Thailand. He added that the fertiliser plant had been built and then torn down. “Its structures were removed and sold as scrap,” Utai said. He also pointed out that with industrial plants mushrooming everywhere, local farmers now have to purchase water at the cost of Bt13 per cubic metre. Utai said he hoped the EEC initiative would show more care for local residents and farmers than the Eastern Seaboard Development Programme. Wattana Banteangsuk, who chairs a health and medical cooperative, said more Rayong residents had fallen ill from the pollution caused by the Eastern Seaboard development. “So, we hope the EEC initiative will consider setting up a fund that helps patients suffering from illnesses related to the EEC development,” Wattana said. Like Utai, Wattana was speaking at a forum on town planning for a pilot area of the EEC, which covers Rayong, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao provinces. Pikul Kitipol, who leads an agri-tourism network, believes the EEC initiative should |also support the agricultural sector and agritourism. Agricultural Land Reform Office’s secretary-general Vinaroj Supsongsuk said farmers could use the land plots allocated to them by his office as collateral for loans. “The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will recognise these land plots as collateral,” he said. Prayood Sodsai, the head of a cooperative, said he hoped the EEC would create green areas because trees help cut down on pollution. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30370685 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-07 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 They were promised something for nothing, they believed them. Sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 The EEC is still in "dream" mode, much talk and false hope but no action, especially given that Prayut is in charge. It is probably in limbo while the kickbacks, payolas and government protection fees are sorted out between interested parties. It was Thaksin's economic idea that was stolen away and claimed as his own by Prayut; that's the sort of man he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Are they insinuating that politicians lie? Don't they trust the government? Shock, horror! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manicmike68 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 More green areas in the way of parks would be nice. There really is no parks in rayong at all when you compare it to Bangkok. I have taught English for the last 6 years in Maptaphut and I had many respiratory issues including pneumonia several times. I finally got out of there this year and moved Inland a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 6 hours ago, webfact said: he hoped the EEC initiative would show more care for local residents and farmers than the Eastern Seaboard Development Programme. Did he miss Prayut invoking Article 44 to bypass public environmental and economic concerns in establishing the EEC development? The only promise I noted from Prayut was that the EEC would financially benefit the nation as a whole, not to locals. The EEC itself comes with significant long-term tax breaks as well for foreign investment that will deprive local civil government of further financial support from tax revenues. Job opportunity for locals in the EEC? Forget it. Only skilled workers will be needed and Japan has projected that Thailand lacks the 30,000 skilled workers required to support the EEC initially (ie., next five years). EEC skilled employment will likely be filled initially by foreigners from Japan, Germany, France, China, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcopops Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Very likely to swamp the 3 changwats in population, traffic and pollution. My perspective is that most expats are blissfully unaware of what is about to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 On 6/7/2019 at 9:30 AM, manicmike68 said: 6 years in Maptaphut Equivalent to three years in Chiang Mai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcopops Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 2 hours ago, mikebell said: Equivalent to three years in Chiang Mai. Crop burning versus petrochemical waste, fumes spills illegal waste disposal, traffic pollution etc.... the choice is yours.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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