NCPO okays B677m Map Ta Phut plan

NCPO okays B677m Map Ta Phut plan

Emissions, garbage disposal tackled

Rayong: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has approved a 677-million-baht development plan for industrial estates in Map Ta Phut, as proposed by the Eastern Seaboard Committee.

ACM Prajin (centre) receives a briefing on the state of affairs during his visit to the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate yesterday. Industrial estates in the area are slated to get an overhaul. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

ACM Prajin Juntong, deputy chief of the NCPO, said yesterday the funds would be allocated from the fiscal-2014 budget, and if they were insufficient, more would come from the 2015 budget and contributions from operators at the estate.

The plan is expected to deal with pollution emissions regulation by factories and industrial estates in the area as well as sustainable garbage disposal that includes more efficient recycling and sorting that will enable production of fertiliser and electricity generation.

The city plans of Rayong and Map Ta Phut will also be overhauled this year as the Map Ta Phut zoning law expired in 2010, and current city planning does not support the growth of the city. Emphasis will be given to green solutions and creating a pollution buffer zone.

Oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc will invest 1.2 billion baht from its budget to build an eight-megawatt power plant from garbage over four years.

"The power plant requires further deliberation with the local administration and stakeholders. Once completed, garbage in the area will be dealt with more effectively," said ACM Prajin.

A warning centre is also part of the plan, informing local operators and stakeholders about industrial accidents as quickly as possible.

The capacity of the Map Ta Phut and Rayong hospitals will be enhanced to provide specialised medical care for industrial-related sicknesses. More mobile units and equipment will be added.

Traffic management in Rayong and Map Ta Phut will be practised to support increased goods transport to Map Ta Phut and road safety. Railway and road access in the area will also be developed.

Part of these plans includes the expansion of Phase 2 and 3 of the Map Ta Phut port for easier access of goods.

Finally, the plan will encourage stakeholder involvement through a committee with factories, industrial estates, educational institutions and local government.

Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate occupies 21,000 rai and consists of five sub-industrial estates, a port, and 151 factories in operation.

"There is still substantial room to expand, but the committee has to revise all five sub-industrial estates and the port first to reduce environmental impacts to the community," said ACM Prajin.

Veerapong Chaiperm, governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), said the agency presented a plan to improve Map Ta Phut port and develop Phase 3 to support more container ships so it can alleviate cargo traffic at Laem Chabang port.

"A public port also needs to be expanded to facilitate more goods shipments at the industrial estates," said Mr Veerapong.

The entire plan is expected to cost 8-10 billion baht.

The IEAT is conducting a feasibility study on the port plan, scheduled for completion in late 2015. If approved, the revamped port could be ready in 2018.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)