Villagers are opposing the building of a waste-to-energy power plant over local water sources. The plant will contaminate Bangkok's water supply, according to an activist.
On 25 January 2016, villagers from Chiang Rak Yai subdistrict submitted a petition to to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The petition urges the ERC not to approve a project to build a waste-to-energy plant within their community.
Taweesak Inkwang, the villagers’ representative, said that the power plant will be located in a water preservation area which supplies waters to more than 12 million people living in Bangkok. The ERC already stated on 31 March 2016 that no power plant can be located in a preservation area.
The power plant project was initiated in 2015 after the junta issued NCPO Order Number 4/2016, which allows government agencies to build power plants in any location, regardless of the wishes of surrounding communities and urban planning laws.
Taweesak was summoned to a military camp on 30 March 2016 for standing up against the project. He was deemed a local influential figure under NCPO Order Number 13/2016, which ordered a national crackdown on local mafias and influential figures.
Chiang Rak Yai villagers hand the petition to an ERC staff
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