Srisuwan Janya, a renowned political activist, referred to as upon the inhabitants of Nakhon Nayok to vehemently oppose the construction of a 20-megawatt nuclear reactor strategically positioned on the Nakhon Nayok River bank. This name to motion comes forward of the project’s third public listening to, slated for right now.
Tracing back to the project’s inception in 1990, Srisuwan narrated how the federal government initially proposed a 10-megawatt nuclear reactor in the Ongkharak district of Nakhon Nayok. However, as a end result of corruption allegations and robust opposition from the locals, the project was stalled in 2010.
Fast forward to 2017, efforts have been revived to breathe life again into the nuclear reactor challenge, only for it to enter a state of uncertainty as quickly as extra. The project’s proponents have since organised several public hearings in a bid to resuscitate the initiative. Today’s meeting marks the third and ultimate hearing.
According to Srisuwan, Dependable to the project’s progress has been the residents’ concern of potential radioactive contamination of their water sources. These include the Bang Pakong River within the neighbouring Chachoengsao, and the Rangsit Canal in Pathum Thani, which hyperlinks to the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
Srisuwan criticised the project’s feasibility examine, carried out in 1990, for its outdated information. He pointed out that the examine now contradicts the design principles set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The majority of the proposed website within the Nakhon Nayok blueprint lies on land supposed for agriculture or residential use.
In addition to those concerns, Srisuwan alleged potential foul play, suggesting some residents may have been financially incentivised to help the nuclear reactor challenge. He drew parallels to the case of water just lately discharged from the broken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plant, which he claims has considerably tarnished Japan’s status globally.
Srisuwan additionally accused the Thai government of failing to offer the general public with full disclosure regarding what would be the country’s largest nuclear reactor. With these allegations in thoughts, he urged the residents of Nakhon Nayok to show up in large numbers at today’s public listening to, reported Bangkok Post..