NO ORGANIC LAW FOR PROJECTS UNTIL MID-2010

       The organic law on polluting industrial projects will take effect next May at the earliest, so temporary measures will need to be put in place during the legal void, Industry Vice Minister Sorayud Petchtrakul said yesterday.
       After meeting with the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), he said the law to support Article 67 of the Constitution should be enforced next May if there is no unfavourable development.
       In the meanwhile, the government on Tuesday sought to ease industrial conflicts through amendments to Article 51 of the National Evironmental Quality Act.
       The amendments will allow for the establishment of the independent environment body required by the Constitution for all industrial projects with serious environmental impacts.
       The government expects the amendment to take effect within 90 days, to address the private sector's worries. Altogether, 76 industrial projects are now suspended, while the Central Administrative Court is reviewing a petition against eight government units charged with negligence.
       Sorayuth said that until then, shorterm, measures will be enforced through the amendment of Article 46 (2) of the environment law.
       The environmental-and health-impact assessment guidelines will be imposed, while industrail projects need to seek stakeholders' consent through public hearings.
       The NESDB and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry are finalising the list of industries with serious environmental impacts.
       The Industry Ministry has already issued a list of eight industries with serious impacts.
       Industry permanent secretary Witoon Simachokedee said the ministry would set up a war room to coordinate with the private sector. On Firday, industrial officials from 20 provinces serving as industrial bases, like Samut Prakan and Rayong provinces, will gather in Bangkok to discuss how they can play a bigger role in tackling conflict.
       Santi Vilassakdanont, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, praised the Cabinet's decision to endorse the amendments. The rules should conform to Article 67, so that the government will not be mistaken as trying to please the industrial sector, he said.
       The amendments should be put for parliamentary review as soon as possible, he said, adding that he expects the amended rules to go into force in February.
       The proposed Bt100 billion emergency fund depends on the Administrative Court's judgement on the 76 suspended industrial projects and damage evalution. Each operator is estimating the damage, he added.

       "The Industry Ministry will set up a war room to coordinate with the private sector."