Dept may use new concept to control air pollution : 'Emission trading'at Map Ta Phut likely

Dept may use new concept to control air pollution : 'Emission trading'at Map Ta Phut likely.

By Apinya Wipatayotin

The Pollution Control Department plans to apply the ''emission trading'' concept under the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases reduction to tackle air pollution at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong province. Under the initiative, a factory that releases a lesser amount of unhealthy emissions than the maximum level allowed could trade their ''unused emission quota'' with other factories or investors that want to set up a new factory at the industrial estate, according to a pollution control official who is a member of the National Environment Committee (NEC) sub-panel directly responsible for cutting down pollution at Map Ta Phut.

The idea was floated recently after Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras, the committee chairman, turned down a proposal to designate the heavy polluted area as a pollution control zone for fear that if the area is governed by tough environmental laws, the move might scare away investors, said the official.

''If Map Ta Phut is designated a pollution control zone, the industrial estate will no longer be attractive to investors and could cause immense damage to the country's economy,'' he quoted Mr Kosit as saying.

The NEC viewed the proposal on emission trading as a potential option that should help concerned officials control the emission of toxic gases at an acceptable level, without having to declare the area a pollution control zone.

Mr Kosit instructed concerned officials and factory owners to work out details of the scheme, which, he believed, would not worry the investors and also help cut toxic gas emissions at the same time.

The NEC also commissioned an in-depth study on whether hazardous gas being emitted by factories had anything to do with the illnesses of Map Ta Phut villagers.

Statistics show that the number of villagers suffering from respiratory ailments and cancer were on the rise in the area.

But there is no clear medical evidence so far to link cancer to Map Ta Phut's pollution.

The deputy prime minister told the NEC meeting on Thursday that the final decision on whether to declare Map Ta Phut a pollution control zone would only come after the study is completed.

The move by the Kosit-led committee was seen by environmentalists and local villagers as a ''time buying'' tactic of the interim government.

The group had petitioned the NEC to immediately designate Map Ta Phut a pollution control zone.

But the committee put off the decision citing inadequate information, said Suthi Atchasai, leader of the civil group from Rayong.

Bangkok Post
Sunday January 14, 2007