The government has agreed in principle to an Industry Ministry proposal to reduce the industrial zone at Map Ta Phut in Rayong to 30,000 rai in a compromise with local authorities.
The National Industrial Development Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday endorsed a proposal to reduce the current industrial area by 10,000 rai — less than the cut of 20,000 rai proposed by Map Ta Phut municipality.
It assigned the Industry Ministry and the Interior Ministry’s Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department to settle the issue before it is resubmitted to the committee for consideration next month.
New town plans have already been approved for 22 provinces, but Rayong’s plan has yet to be announced.
However, Map Ta Phut municipality earlier proposed a new plan to halve the industrial area to 20,000 rai and designate more than 9,475 rai surrounding it as a buffer zone between industries and the community.
Moreover, about 15 square kilometres of sea adjacent to Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate would be designated as a conservation area. Port construction would be allowed within this area but reclamation forbidden. A strip of land about 50 metres wide extending from the boundary fence of the industrial zone would be designated as a protection strip.
The new plan seeks to cover Map Ta Phut, Ban Chang, Map Kha Pattana, Pla, Tap Ma and Nern Pra.
It also proposes that agencies relocate three villages — Huay Pong, Map Cha Lood and Nong Fhep — now located near the industrial zone.
Industry Minister Chakramon Phasukavanich said town plans in many provinces were still deemed obstacles to the country’s industrial development.
Processing factories for agricultural products are not allowed in many provinces that have rich raw materials.
The committee also approved in principle an Industry Ministry proposal to conduct a mineral development plan for gold, potash, iron ore, quartz and lignite covering the upstream and downstream sectors.
“The development of minerals will help to boost the economy and generate billions of baht in revenue for the country,” Mr Chakramon said.
“Area residents will also be entitled to gain benefits from the development. There is no need to be afraid of an environmental impact, as current technology has progressed to prevent any such harm.”
The ministry reported there were 700 tonnes of proved reserves of gold, 400 billion tonnes of potash, 124 million tonnes of iron ore, 100-150 million tonnes of quartz and 787 million tonnes of lignite.
The committee also approved eco-town industrial estate development in five provinces.
The provinces are Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri.