Egat ordered to limit Mae Moh impact

The Nation 11 Febuary 2015

THE SUPREME Administrative Court yesterday ordered the Mae Moh lignite-fired power plant in Lampang province to minimise its harsh impact on the local environment and residents.

This station run by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has been blamed for polluting the environment and harming the health of locals.

Already 318 people have lodged complaints against Egat and various authorities over this plant.

They also appealed when the Central Administrative Court did not completely rule in their favour. For example, the court did not revoke Egat’s licence to operate a coal mine in the province to supply fuel to the power plant.

The Supreme Administrative Court upheld the essence of the lower court’s ruling and just made minor changes to improve environmental measures. For example, it ordered Egat to install 800-metre-long water curtains between its mine and villages. It also required Egat to set up a committee to help locals whose properties and lives are seriously affected by pollution to relocate out of an area within 5 kilometres of the mine.

Egat was ordered to rehabilitate the mine site and return it to as close to natural condition as possible.