Samut Songkhram gas depot in crosshairs

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is zeroing in on a gas depot construction project in Samut Songkhram’s Muang district in its crackdown on public land encroachment.

The move follows a complaint by the National Human Rights Commission that the project, located on a 42-rai plot in tambon Laem Yai, allegedly involved the destruction of part of a mangrove forest.

Speaking after the inspection, Ratchai Pornpa, chief of the Chalarm Khao task force, said the gas depot project has received permission from the Marine Department to use part of the public land, but not from other agencies concerned.

“There is a remark from the Marine Department that the company needs permission from other agencies to use the land. And the most important thing is it requires cabinet approval.

“Generally, no private company can ask the cabinet to do so. Only a state agency can, and few have received the cabinet green light,” he said.

He said the department will also be looking into the Nor Sor 3 Kor document for the plot in case the land deeds might have been unlawfully issued.

The Nor Sor 3 Kor was upgraded from a Sor Khor 1 document which was missing, he said, adding that aerial photos show that the areas used to be a mangrove forest until 1991 when signs of encroachment emerged.

According to the inspection, the construction site is located in the Klong Noi community, which is surrounded by mangrove forests. The site has various structures currently being built, including a 300-metre concrete bridge across the mouth of the Mae Klong River and also a pier.

He said the findings of the inspection will be submitted to the department chief and a request made to suspend construction of the pier and the bridge due to their environmental impact on the nearby Don Hoi Lod mudflats.

The mudflats are a habitat for razor clams and were registered as a wetland of international importance in 2000.

The inspection was carried out by the Chalarm Khao (White Shark) unit and officials from the agencies concerned, including local administrators and soldiers from the provincial office of Internal Security Operations (Isoc).

Tambon Laem Yai chief Yanyong Chatrapin said villagers have been protesting against the project because it has not undergone an environmental impact assessment study.

Polsilp Charupat, a representative of the company, said construction of the depot and the pier has complied with the law and will be completed in 60 days.