Protesters end rally but vow to monitor joint panel set u to review power project
RIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha’s order to put the Krabi coal-fired power plant project on hold brought an end to the protest outside Government House last night, a rally organiser said.
Anti-coal activist Prasitchai Noonual said the protesters were happy with the government’s decision to set up a joint committee that includes all stakeholders to discuss, study and improve the plan to build a 800MW coal-fired power plant in Krabi, which is a popular tourist destination.
“We are still unsure if the agencies involved will comply. So we will [today] ask the agencies behind the implementation, such as the Energy Ministry and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand [Egat], to sign an agreement together at the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission,” Prasitchai told the press outside Government House.
He also said that the PM had promised to support alternative sources of power, provided they produce sufficient electricity.
As of press time, the protesters – mostly from Krabi – were heading home after hearing about Prayut’s decision. Prasitchai said they would still closely monitor the project and return if the agreement was broken.
Earlier yesterday, Prayut had to sneak out of his office due to the protest.
Some 100 Krabi residents and environmental activists had gathered to demand a reply from the PM over their call to postpone the project’s bidding.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prayut-puts-Krabi-plant-on-hold-30265127.html
