AYUTTHAYA: The Central Administrative Court has revoked permits for ships carrying cargo exceeding 500 gross tonnage from unloading their freight at piers along the Pasak River in Nakhon Luang district.
Local residents complained that the permits, which were granted by the Marine Department, allowed ships to unload coal which creates dust and noise pollution, according to Srisuwan Janya, president of the Stop Global Warming Assocation.
He hailed the court's decision as a victory for the residents, who have for years suffered from dust pollution caused by the unloading at commercial piers in the district.
Goods passing through the piers include coal, tapioca flour, fertilisers and rice, and there are 26 commercial piers lining that stretch of the Pasak River.
The court on Sunday handed down the ruling, sought by 81 residents in a petition against eight state agencies and persons including the provincial industry office, the Marine Department chief and the tambon administrative organisation (TAO).
The court ruled that the permits must be immediately cancelled, retroactively effective from the date they were issued by the Marine Department chief. The ships can only resume operations once their owners have conducted environmental assessment reports of their activities at the piers.
Mr Srisuwan, who assisted the residents in filing the petition, said the court also ordered the provincial industry office to enforce the Factories Act to ease the plight of residents affected by the dust and noise pollution.
The TAO was also instructed to provide remedial assistance to the residents within 90 days of the court's ruling.
Mr Srisuwan said many residents living close to the piers have experienced long-term ailments such as allergies.