June 19, 2001

Local people say independent experts misleading.

Summarized from Thai-language daily, “Matichon” newspaper

Dr Kevin Boland, the team leader of the independent review that was set up by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, has assessed the environmental aspects of the Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project. The independent expert team, which consisted of Dr Kevin Boland, Dr Pichai Sonchaeng, a marine ecologist and shellfish expert, and Dr Scott Bamber, a public health expert, conducted a 10-week study gathering information from various sources and several government agencies. The findings, which will be reported to the ADB, concluded that this project design was already up to standard and will help to reduce the pollution in the area. However, the team also recommended further improvement of design and operation in 26 details.

Dawan Chantarahassadee and Renu Sang-rat, Klong Dan local leaders, stated that they do not accept the working process of the independent team, and that they had demanded for participation from local people at the very beginning of the process but the ADB and PCD never gave any opportunities to address the concerns of the local people. The PCD has never conducted the public hearing. Moreover, this independent team, and in particular Dr Boland, never visited the Klong Dan area even once.

“We do not accept the results of this study because it is simply another process to make way for the project and to support the environmental management plan of the PCD. Mr Boland has never been to Klong Dan but only believes the information from the PCD. Therefore, we cannot accept the study that was done by Mr Boland,” Dawan said.

Dr Boland said that it is too aggressive to accuse the work of the independent academics as biased and unfair. In the past 25 years of his work, he has never faced a situation like this. He said that the team tried to invite local people to discuss the matter with them, but the local people just ignored them.

Journalists raised questions about the findings on mussel yield done by Dr Pichai, showing that the annual yield of mussel farms is far more than the PCD estimated, and that the coastal mussel farms could be at risk from diluted salinity caused by the water discharge from the treatment plant. Dr Boland responded that the information from the PCD and Dr Pichai are very different, and that the team is as yet unable come to conclusions at this time, however all information will be gathered and another study approach taken in order to clear up the matter.

Dr Pichai said the reason that the independent team leader is afraid of accepting his findings is because they do not fit with his desired conclusions. He said that Dr Boland should advise him about how his study may be inaccurate or false, but Dr Boland has never asked him about his research methods or approach.