Chana estate plan to wait study result

Construction of the Chana Industrial Estate in Songkhla will be deferred to next year, pending a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) report on government development projects in the South.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), yesterday said Prince of Songkla University had been hired for 28.22 million baht to carry out the assessment in Songkhla and Pattani provinces.

The cabinet earlier decided to postpone the industrial estate project until the assessment was finished due to public concerns.

“The study is expected to finish in about 18 months or in the middle of next year,” Mr Danucha said.

Some 40 public hearings are expected to be staged in two years, with 32 hearings this year expected to draw 2,100 locals and another eight next year expected to draw 900, he said.

Individuals…