Sahaviriya Steel Group is set to start clearing land for the planned construction of its smelting plant in Prachuab Khiri Khan, while local people and environmentalists are getting prepared for confrontation.

The situation in Mae Ramphueng sub-district, Bang Saphan district, is growing tense again as the country's largest steel group prepares to clear a 1,142-rai plot of land on Nov 23 for construction set to begin early next year, although the required environmental impact assessment (EIA) report has yet to be approved by the relevant state agencies.

It is reported that bulldozers and other equipment are being transported to the site, and local opponents to the company's planned expansion are also mobilizing and preparing food and other necessities for their new round of protest, saying the company's move forces the local people to confront the sub-contractors, and violence may occur.

Sahaviriya Steel Group already runs large steel manufacturing factories occupying much of the area of Bang Saphan district. Previously a group of local people organized themselves to protect a public local wetland from being illegally seized for the company's planned smelting plant.

On April 23, Sahaviriya Plc Ltd asked the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning (ONEP) to withdraw the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for its smelting plant project which had been approved by the ONEP's expert panel for revisions following changes of the project area.

On June 20, the Mae Rampheung conservation group gathered in front of Prachuab Khiri Khan provincial hall to urge the provincial governor to order to halt land measurement and clearance of the site by the company before the EIA report is approved by the ONEP.

On Oct 26, the National Human Rights Commission's sub-committee on land and forest management held a meeting on the public wetland attended by the conservation group, representatives of the company, and provincial authorities at the provincial hall.

On Nov 9, the Chair of Mae Ramphueng Tambon Administrative Organization gave permission for clearing the 1,142-rai site, when the EIA report had yet to be approved. The TAO Chair had just assumed his post on Nov 8.

Translated by Ponglert pongwanan