From: apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG (Indonesia Publications/Task Force)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Subject: TH: Environmental Policy
Date: 26 Jul 92 11:25:35 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
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/* Written 12:04 am  Jul 26, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "THAILAND: INTERIM GOVERNMENT SETS L" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Asia, southern
Reference: Environment
Title: THAILAND: INTERIM GOVERNMENT SETS LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENT POLICIES


bangkok, jul 23 (ips/yuli ismartono) -- with less than two months to
go before its term expires, the interim government of prime minister
anand panyarachun is taking steps to ensure thailand's environmental
policies outlast it.

a new environmental act went into effect in june and it is
expected to strengthen environmental laws regulating development
projects and the use of the country's dwindling natural resources.

and in a symbolic gesture of the government's commitment to the
environment, anand transferred 180 million dollars from thailand's
oil fund to the new environment fund.

the fund was started last year with an initial capital of 20
million dollars.

''it's time thailand adapt its economic direction to pave the way
for sustainable development,'' said anand during the signing
ceremony.

thailand's economy has grown at a phenomenal rate of about 10
percent annually in the past decade, but at a cost to its natural
resources. with its booming industries, thailand is also
experiencing a rise in its toxic wastes, which have wreaked havoc on
its air and water resources.

in bangkok and other urban centres, air and water quality have
deteriorated due to the energy-intensive activities like power
generation, transportation and manufacture.

the thailand development research institute (tdri) reports that
environmental problems in the rural area -- where 60 percent of
thailand's 68 million people live -- include deforestation, loss of
biological diversity, soil erosion, flooding and shortage of potable
water.

forests that took 50 percent of thailand's total land area only
30 years ago now cover only 28 percent of the country because of
uncontrolled logging and land clearance for farming.

under the new law, the national environmental board has been
transformed into three departments -- pollution control,
environmental quality promotion and policy and planning.

''we will have more teeth to control pollution and protect the
environment,'' said dhira phantumvanit, natural resources and
environment programme director of the bangkok-based tdri.

indeed, the government has already been brandishing its new
resolve, recently declaring the popular tourist resort towns of
pattaya and phuket as pollution control zones. (more/ips)



thailand: interim (2)

''this means the authorities will be able to regulate use of
land, new construction and businesses in those towns by making
regular environment impact assessment reports,'' dhira said.

in the past, officials were reluctant to disturb the towns, which
are big contributors to the country's tourism coffers.

but now even businesses operating there will have to comply with
the tougher rules or suffer the consequences.

this time around, for instance, the government is enforcing a
stricter 'polluter pays' principle, which is aimed at the regulating
factory pollution.

previously, factories found discarding toxic wastes into rivers
or lakes were fined a mere 40 dollars with a warning to improve its
waste discharge facilities. under the new rules, polluters will now
have to shell out 20,000 dollars aside from spending five years in
jail.

government officials also say the costs of pollution control must
be built into the capital and operating costs of manufacturing
products and providing services, rather than subsidised through
taxes.

and though critics retort excellent rules are one thing but
implementation is another, some observers say the environment law's
proponents seem to be quick in plugging potential loopholes.

''there can be no excuse now not to upgrade waste discharge
systems to conform to environmental regulations,'' said dhira. ''the
environment fund provides interest-free loans for those who need the
money.''

bangkok has also been pushing for regional cooperation in
implementing its environmental policies.

''as the (association of south-east asian nations) cooperates
more in business, we should also work together toward bringing
environmental awareness,'' said dhira, who is the chairman of
asean's chamber of commerce steering committee on sustainable
development.

thailand has established two institutes geared toward providing
training in environmental training managements and research, with
joint projects with asean and other developing countries.

one of these is the chulabhorn research institute, which teamed
up with the u.n. environment programme to set up the international
centre for environmental and industrial toxicology. the centre hopes
to foster north-south collaboration in green technology transfer and
environmental protection expertise. (end/ips/yi/cb/92)
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