The National Environment Board (NEB) put the brakes on the controversial Pak Bara-Songkhla railway Monday, following opposition by residents.
The decision was made after locals in the areas where the rail line is to be built submitted a letter of opposition to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep) last month. They said the project has been proposed without public participation and it would have major impacts on the environment and their fishing.
Kasemsun Chinnavaso, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, said the NEB, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, ordered the Transport Ministry to suspend the project as residents do not have enough information about it.
As a result, the board suggested the ministry set up a tripartite committee to provide residents with greater access to information.
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"The board agreed that the way to solve the problem is by setting up the committee, like it did to solve the coal power plant dispute in Krabi province," he said, referring to the committee on the Krabi power plant, members of which came from the government, local community and the National Legislative Assembly.
"After adequate information is handed to the locals and there is improved understanding, the ministry could re-submit the project to the board for consideration," he said.
A panel of Onep experts on Feb 26 approved the environmental impact assessment study for the 142km-long freight railway project linking the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
The railway would link Pak Bara deep-sea port in Satun province and the second Songkhla deep-sea port.
About 4.5km of the project in Satun would be constructed in the Andaman Sea, in Mu Ko Phetra National Park, which has sparked concerns about the impact among locals and environmentalists.
A group of local activists gathered Monday to oppose the railway in front of Government House where Onep held its meeting.
The group said it opposes the ministry's proposal to use 4,734 rai of national park to build the line on because it is a significant area which is a source of income for locals from tourism and marine animal resources.
Somyot Tolang, a key opponent of the rail line from the People's Network on Protection of Mu Ko Phetra National Park, said his group is not against developing the country but every project must gain acceptance from locals.
He welcomed the board's decision to suspend the line's construction.