Map Ta Phut pollution cleanup taskforce with 3 month deadline
By Jon Fernquest
To
solve difficult problems sometimes it takes the appointment of
one official with a special mandate and authority to solve the problem in a set
timeframe. Prime Minister Abhisit has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak (Twitter: @Korbsak) to solve the Map Ta Phut industrial pollution problem.
If it remains unsolved this Map Ta Phut problem threatens to: 1. shut down industrial operations vital to the whole country of Thailand, and also 2. possibly discourage future foreign investment in Thailand's economy (Read article #1, #2).
The article begins after the vocabulary:
Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate - one
of Thailand's largest industrial estates located in Rayong
(See interactive
map)
industrial estate, industrial park - a special area built especially for factories with special facilities (roads, transportation, water, electricity, waste disposal) (See Wikipedia)
taskforce - a group of people working together on a task or to solve a problem
a mandate - giving someone the power and authority to complete a task and achieve goals
authority - the power to make decisions, issue orders, and get a job done
a timeframe - the period of time that a project is worked on and completed
a set timeframe - the period of time fixed for project completion
vital to - very important for
discourage - cause someone to lose enthusiasm and not do what they are doing
encourage - cause someone to gain enthusiasm, motivation, and energy in what they are doing
toxic - poisonous
industrial estate, industrial park - a special area built especially for factories with special facilities (roads, transportation, water, electricity, waste disposal) (See Wikipedia)
taskforce - a group of people working together on a task or to solve a problem
a mandate - giving someone the power and authority to complete a task and achieve goals
authority - the power to make decisions, issue orders, and get a job done
a timeframe - the period of time that a project is worked on and completed
a set timeframe - the period of time fixed for project completion
vital to - very important for
discourage - cause someone to lose enthusiasm and not do what they are doing
encourage - cause someone to gain enthusiasm, motivation, and energy in what they are doing
toxic - poisonous
(In photo on right "locals and officials look over toxic garbage carelessly dumped on private land in Map Kha village, adjacent to Map Ta Phut industrial Estate")
Minister says he will rescue Map Ta Phut
Pollution to be fixed 'within three months'10/11/2009
Apinya Wipatayotin
RAYONG : Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu has told people affected by industrial pollution in Map Ta Phut he will improve the environment within three months.
Mr Korbsak yesterday travelled to Map Ta Phut and nearby industrial estates - his first visit since Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva assigned him to oversee the pollution problem in this eastern industrial town late last month.
He also promised to visit the pollution control zone every other week to monitor progress in cleaning up the area and the rehabilitation of residents affected by industrial pollution.
Six tambons in Muang Rayong and Ban Chang districts were declared a pollution control zone in May following a ruling by Rayong Administrative Court in March.
oversee - manage,
check to see if project is going ok
a zone - an official area (made by the government)
pollution control zone - an official area for controlling pollution (made by the government)
progress - completing tasks that move you towards achieving a goal
monitor progress - watch and check whether a project is moving towards its goal
rehabilitation - the process of making normal again after suffering injury or harm
rehabilitation of residents - making the living situation normal again for people who live in the area
Administrative Court - a court that solves disputes concerning the exercise of public power and government administration (See court website, history of Thailand's administrative courtand Wikipedia on administrative law)
a zone - an official area (made by the government)
pollution control zone - an official area for controlling pollution (made by the government)
progress - completing tasks that move you towards achieving a goal
monitor progress - watch and check whether a project is moving towards its goal
rehabilitation - the process of making normal again after suffering injury or harm
rehabilitation of residents - making the living situation normal again for people who live in the area
Administrative Court - a court that solves disputes concerning the exercise of public power and government administration (See court website, history of Thailand's administrative courtand Wikipedia on administrative law)
Mr Korbsak said he would seek cabinet approval for a special budget to tackle the problem.
The deputy prime minister told the villagers to draw up a list of pollution-related problems they wanted the government to solve first and propose projects to solve the problems.
"Don't worry about money. I will take responsibility for that," Mr Korbsak told the villagers during a meeting with local officials.
He ordered officials to inspect factories located in the pollution control zone to see if they have followed environmental protection measures as required by their environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports.
With these measures, Mr Korbsak said he expected Map Ta Phut's pollution problem to show improvement within three months.
"Map Ta Phut is a case study of a development scheme which yields success in terms of GDP growth but fails to protect the environment," he said.
tackle the problem -
solve the problem
draw up a list - make a list
take responsibility - say that you will be the person that gets the job done
environment - the natural world of land, sea, plants, and animals (See Wikipedia)
measures - actions taken to solve a problem
environmental protection measures - actions taken to protect the environment
impact - effect
assessment - a considering and evaluation of something to make judgement
environmental impact assessment (EIA) - a report that details the likely positive and negative effects a project may have on the environment (See Wikipedia)
draw up a list - make a list
take responsibility - say that you will be the person that gets the job done
environment - the natural world of land, sea, plants, and animals (See Wikipedia)
measures - actions taken to solve a problem
environmental protection measures - actions taken to protect the environment
impact - effect
assessment - a considering and evaluation of something to make judgement
environmental impact assessment (EIA) - a report that details the likely positive and negative effects a project may have on the environment (See Wikipedia)
Poch Nilwong, headmaster of Ban Nong Fab School which is next to the industrial estate, told Mr Korbsak the school needed air-conditioning in the classrooms for its 300 pupils as a safeguard from foul smells emitted from nearby factories.
The air pollution problem was particularly serious during the cool season when strong winds blow from the industrial sites to the school.
Villagers believe factories refrain from emitting pollution when senior figures visit to try to show the pollution problem is not as serious as locals suggest.Rayong governor Sayomporn Limthai said local administrations in the six tambons under the pollution control zone had completed a draft pollution control plan.
headmaster - the
safeguard - protect, make safe
emit - when a gas comes out of a place
foul smells emitted - when bad smells come out of a place
refrain from emitting pollution - stop pollution from coming out of a factory
senior figures - important people in a company or government
draft pollution control plan - write the first version of a pollution control plan
safeguard - protect, make safe
emit - when a gas comes out of a place
foul smells emitted - when bad smells come out of a place
refrain from emitting pollution - stop pollution from coming out of a factory
senior figures - important people in a company or government
draft pollution control plan - write the first version of a pollution control plan
(Source: Minister says he will rescue Map Ta Phut, Pollution to be fixed 'within three months', 10/11/2009, Apinya Wipatayotin, link)
