ENVIRONMENT
Villagers concerned over pipeline project safety
By Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation 2011-05-06
Villagers living in areas designated as sites for pipelines carrying compressed natural gas (CNG) in six Central provinces expressed concerns over the safety of the PTT project at a recent public hearing.
They also worried about compensation for their expropriated land and possible health hazards or even injuries and deaths in the case of explosions.
Nikhom Malaisri, a politician in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district, demanded that PTT clearly announce the rates for land expropriation in advance, so that villagers had enough time to appeal if they were not happy with the prices offered.
He expressed scepticism over government projects that he said regularly failed to honour promises given to the people affected.
"The pipeline projects are good for the country and the people, which I welcome, but money or other incentives should be given to the people affected in larger amounts," he said.
Ubol Hongchakaj, a Wang Noi resident, said she was given compensation for land only once, although three sections of her land were expropriated by PTT. She called for clear details about project sites to be given out to the public and landowners in advance.
Duennoi Nillawat, an official in Sing Buri's Muang district, proposed environmental impact assessments (EIA) and health impact assessments (HIA), with the results being made public. She said a large number of trees, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, along a 200kilometre stretch of the Asia Highway would be lost because of the pipeline projects.
Kesorn Sawasdikul, an Ayutthaya resident, said affected home and landowners must be sufficiently compensated, adding that CNG prices should be lower and residents able to live in safety.
"But who knows what will happen after the project is complete, or whether there will be gas leaks? The villagers want to be told about safety measures, or about procedures to follow in case of emergency," she added.
Somyos Niwandee, a Sing Buri resident, said he expected effective plans to be in place before problems occurred. "Don't let this project become like others opposed by local residents, such as factories with toxic discharges, which make local residents their prime victims."
The 20month PTT pipeline project will see metal pipes buried 2.2 metres underground along a 200km stretch, from a gascontrolling facility in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district to Nakhon Sawan's Krok Phra district. The pipeline will also cover Angthong, Chai Nat, Lop Buri and Sing Buri, said Jira Jobhiamwet, the project manager.
The first phase of the project, which will begin early next year, will install pipes alongside a line of pylons from the Wang Noi facility to the Asia Highway, or Route 32.
The second phase will see the pipelines travel along the route to Nakhon Sawan.
PTT said a 120megawatt power plant would be built along the pipeline route to power delivery of CNG along the pipes. Its heat discharge would be fed to factories.
The pipeline project will provide CNG to service stations and motorists throughout the Central region, said Watchara Khunarattanawuit, a senior PTT official.
Sompong Phothichai, an Ayutthaya resident, raised a question about safety in case of earthquakes, and was told that the pipeline could withstand a 7.0 magnitude quake, while the most violent quake ever recorded in Thailand was measured at 5.6.
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