A post titled "Post-EEC Development Remediation: Local Problem Management Mission (EEC Station)" from the Thai Post newspaper on November 2, 2018, featured an image of a riverside community, illustrating local livelihoods that may be affected by the development. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project is considered a crucial national mega-project aimed at developing the area, promoting industry, investment, and human resources in various sectors, which requires cooperation from all parties.
EEC development has received cooperation from many sectors, including government, private sector, research institutions, and educational institutions, with the Ministry of Industry as the primary lead in overseeing investment and monitoring. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, NESDC, FTI, and IEAT play significant roles. The Department of Local Administration (DLA) under the Ministry of Interior also plays a role in supporting the EEC and looking after the quality of life, education, and environment of local residents. Mr. Sutthipong Chulcharoen, Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, provided important information.
The DLA views the EEC as a good project with high potential, and the development of transportation infrastructure by land, sea, and air will make it a crucial strategic point for the country, supporting economic decentralization from Bangkok. However, EEC development also brings consequences such as increased population, greater resource and environmental consumption, decreased safety, increased waste, wastewater, worsening air quality, as well as higher food prices and cost of living, which are challenges that the government and local authorities must jointly address and strictly control through legislation.
The Department of Local Administration recognizes the waste problems that accompany community growth and has initial support plans, focusing on building awareness and discipline in environmental management using the 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). In 2019, the Department will collaborate with local authorities and the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) to accelerate development in this area, implement household wet waste bins, and potentially introduce incentive programs. Mr. Sutthipong stated that in the past, waste management was inefficient, but current technology allows waste to be utilized for benefits and income, for example, the development of waste-to-energy power plants, which can generate up to 800 megawatts of electricity from 324 waste mountains nationwide.
Waste management policy formulation requires studying all waste mountain data, designating plant locations, and opening opportunities for private sector investment, with long-term guarantees. Although waste management legislation was completed in 2017, its implementation faces challenges regarding perspectives in the Power Development Plan (PDP), which still prioritizes primary energy over energy from waste. Waste management not only helps solve environmental and health problems but also improves quality of life and resolves the deadlock caused by a lack of waste disposal areas, which has led to public protests. Further details are in the attached file.
