The government's push for the Pak Bara deep-sea port in Satun has softened as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said local people's opinions must be taken into account first.
However, he has requested local people try to understand the importance of such development projects.
Gen Prayut was speaking during a visit to the province yesterday to officially launch a public internet project and an undersea cable development.
The Pak Bara port project has received unfavourable feedback from local communities, which fear it will damage natural resources in the Andaman Sea.
Gen Prayut said those in charge of nascent projects like this must pay heed to the concerns of the people who live in the area.
He said locals are fretting about the project's impact on Koh Lipe, a pristine island 85km offshore, so this must be reviewed carefully before approval is given.
"If we want it, measures must be sought to protect [the environment]," the premier added.
He said the government is not prepared to bully villagers into accepting the plan.
Supat Hasuwankit, director of Chana Hospital in Songkhla, who has opposed several sizeable government projects in Songkhla and Satun, said earlier he hoped Gen's Prayut visit would clarify for the government whether the port should be located there or somewhere less harmful.
The planned site has the largest area of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea, Dr Supat said.
He said locals have opposed the project for the last 10 years as they fight to stop their area turning into a heavily polluted industrial zone.
"They don't want it," Dr Supat said. "They want this region to serve as a global tourism destination and a production base for organic food."
A protest erupted during the first hearing for the Pak Bara port project at Ban Pak Bang School in Langu district from March 15-16. Nine people have been prosecuted, and campaigns launched to drum up funds helping them fight the case in court.
Pak Bara deep sea port is part of the government's ambitious plan to have the 142km Southern Land Bridge link the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Under the scheme, cargo containers can be transported by rail from the port to Songkhla's deep-sea port in Chana district.
In the first phase of development, railways will connect Hat Yai station in Songkhla to Pak Bara port. The second port will be linked to Hat Yai later.
The Marine Department is now conducting Environmental and Health Impact Assessments (EHIA) for Pak Bara and Songkhla ports.
Regarding the land bridge scheme, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has already conducted its study and organised hearings from relevant organisations.