Thai government refuses to address residential noise issues around new airport

Proving that social development is proceeding much more slowly than every other kind of development in Thailand, the TRT government refuses to acknowledge even the most basic standard of living issues such as relentless noise, air, and water pollution faced by its citizens.

from The Nation:

Residents up in arms over noise

Many want AOT help in relocating, or soundproofing their homes

Residents around the new Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday said they wanted to move away from the unbearable noise and urged Airports of Thailand (AOT) to negotiate with them regarding payments to relocate or Bt1-million compensation for each home to be made soundproof.

The residents - together with the King Mongkut's University of Technology Lat Krabang - appealed for the company to solve the noise and environmental problems before the airport's opening on September 28, and vowed to set up a movement to pressure the company.

Living just one kilometre away from the runway, residents already know from trial flights that they will be affected by the roar of jet engines as aircraft take off and land, resident Suradech Benjakul said. The sound of a jet engine often reaches 120 decibels while the generally acceptable maximum level for human health is 70 decibels.

Suradech said residents needed the company to discuss with them the problems following the airport's opening, when they will have to endure an aircraft arrival or departure every two minutes.

At this stage AOT apparently lacked clear solutions and had no interest in talking with them, he said.

"We want the expropriation payment to be the current market price, or compensation - possibly Bt1 million to each home - for ceiling and wall renovations as well as air-conditioner installation to reduce the impact of the noise," Suradech said.

They also want the government to solve the regular flooding, he said, and with no clear answers for both issues, residents would join the university in a protest on Friday.

Residents may also file complaints with international airlines and media, such as the Far Eastern Economic Review and Times, so that the world would know that Thailand, while boasting of being the aviation hub of Asia, did not care about the effects on the neighbourhood, said resident Jutharat Janthorn.

AOT had earlier said it would pay the university Bt214 million, something that would be discussed by the airport development panel on Wednesday, said the president of the university's lecturer council Pongthip Intakaew.

The university has insisted all along that if it received such compensation, the affected communities should get compensation too, he said.