| |
|
27 April 2003 |
|
MINING INDUSTRY |
| |
| Proposal
to permit lead mining blasted |
| |
|
Rich deposits seen in national park
area |
| |
Anchalee
Kongrut and Kultida Samabuddhi
The Industry Ministry plans to ask cabinet to set aside for lead
mining a 77-square kilometre area of prime forest land in
Kanchanaburi, which otherwise is part of a proposed national park,
a high-level source said yesterday.
The source said minister Somsak Thepsuthin was expected to ask
cabinet soon to exclude the land from the 600sqkm forest proposed
as Lam Klong Ngu National Park, adjacent to the Thung Yai Naresuan
wildlife sanctuary, a World Heritage site.
The area has been a lead mining hub for almost three decades. It
is said to contain some 7.73 million tonnes of lead deposits worth
10.5 billion baht, according to the Department of Primary
Industries and Mines (DPIM).
Apart from its richness in lead deposits, the proposed Lam Klong
Ngu national park is also considered as one of the richest
forests.
The Forestry Department had delayed or rejected requests for
mining permits in that area. A concession held by the Bo Ngam
Group that operated a mine in the forest reserve for over two
decades was not renewed after it expired in 1995.
Kemco, another major miner, was also idled after its concession
expired in December last year.
The DPIM last year commissioned the Thailand Development Research
Institute (TDRI) to conduct a study on the advantages and
disadvantages of mining in that area.
``It found lead mining there could co-exist with nature. The
department would submit its findings to cabinet for a decision,''
said the source.
The study also carried the opinions of people from eight villages
in the area about the benefits and negative effects of lead
mining. The study results would be publicised next month.
But environmentalist Surapong Kongchantuk condemned Mr Somsak's
proposed move as detrimental to Thungyai Naresuan and Huay Kha
Kaeng wildlife sanctuaries, which have been designated as World
Heritage sites.
``The industry minister's attempt to renew mining concessions in
the proposed national park area is wrong. Mr Somsak should respect
a recent recommendation, jointly issued by the Forestry
Department, the House environmental panel and Unesco's World
Heritage committee, that mining activity be permanently prohibited
in the area to preserve the precious forest,'' Mr Surapong said.
In past decades, the two mine operators had discharged
lead-contaminated water into natural creeks in Thungyai Naresuan
wildlife sanctuary, causing severe health problems for Karen
villagers, he said.
Mr Surapong also lashed out at the DPIM for misinterpreting the
TDRI report. ``The TDRI research should not be read as endorsing
lead mining as environmentally-friendly. The TDRI points out that
the cost of lead mined from the area was not cheaper than the
imported ore.
``If there is no difference between them then why not only import
the ore to prevent further environmental damage?'' he said.
The TDRI report on the impact of lead mining was likely to be
biased because it was conducted under the DPIM's commission, he
said.
``The TDRI did not present the report in a straightforward manner
because it did not want to displease its employer,'' Mr Surapong
said. |
|
