The proposed Land Bridge project must be guided by scientific principles and environmental safeguards to ensure it delivers public benefits while protecting natural resources, says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Raweewan Bhuridej, the ministry's permanent secretary and chairwoman of the sub-committee on environmental impact assessment for the project, said science-based measures are needed to ensure the scheme can proceed alongside the conservation of natural resources.
She was speaking while leading sub-committee members on a two-day inspection of the proposed project area in Ranong and Chumphon to gather first-hand information for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the transport project linking the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
The project, valued at around 1 trillion baht, includes deep-sea ports, dual-track railways, motorways and industrial estates. It aims to create a transport corridor connecting Ranong on the Andaman coast with Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand, allowing cargo to bypass the Strait of Malacca.
In Ranong, members met officials from Laem Son National Park before inspecting Ao Khoei and Ranong Port to examine marine resources, coastal ecosystems and how local communities use the area.
In Chumphon, they inspected areas along the proposed route, assessing land use, environmental conditions and the project's potential impacts on nearby communities.
The panel also reviewed proposed measures to minimise impacts on natural resources and wildlife, particularly rare and vulnerable species.
Ms Raweewan said the sub-committee is one of three panels studying the project and is responsible for carrying out a comprehensive assessment of its environmental impacts.
She said information gathered during the field visit would be submitted to the committee overseeing the Land Bridge project and used to formulate environmental mitigation measures.
