Pennapa Kongtansarasit. An appropriate guideline for limestone usage relating with local community : a case study at Khao Wong-Na-Phra-Lan area, Saraburi province . Master's Degree(Environmental Planning for Community and Rural Development). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
An appropriate guideline for limestone usage relating with local community : a case study at Khao Wong-Na-Phra-Lan area, Saraburi province
Abstract:
This research formulates appropriate guidelines for limestone use in the
community at Khao Wong-Na Phra Lan, Saraburi Province, Thailand. The study
covers 4 square kilometers, focuses on natural resources, environmental impact and
public participation. The mineral resource in the area consists of a total of 603
million tones high-grade limestone supplying domestic cement plants and rock
aggregate factories.
The following basic information and data are reviewed: the state policies, laws
and regulations related to limestone resource management, and present land use,
which can be classified, based on area coverage, into 56% mining and industrialized
area, 34% agriculture area, 4% living area and 6% forestry area. Due to unbalanced
land use categorization, and Expert Review committee of the Environmental Impact
Evaluation Bureau (Mining Project) has established a measure to introduce a buffer
zone to the limestone mines. It is expected to increase the forestry area up to 25%,
by reducing the mining area.
The study indicates that the major impact of the mines and aggregate factories
in this area is air pollution affecting the health of the community. However, by
analyzing the existing data as well as local opinion, the environmental impact is
considered acceptable. It has been found that the local community has been
impressed by and benefited from the mining industry and is familiar with the present
environmental condition. Meanwhile, they would like the government and the
mining companies to pay more attention to water shortage, air quality and health
problems. They would also like to be involved in the decision making process of
granting mining concessions as well as sharing in benefits of the mine developers.
From this study, the researcher has developed an appropriate guideline for
limestone usage relating to the local community, there must be a link between the
resource use and local community participation in terms of decision making and
environmental functioning. Introducing modern mining and environmental
protection technologies, as well as establishing appropriate royalty rates and
environmental tax will give grater benefit to the local community and will
compromise all stakeholders. This guideline can be applied to other communities
that have limestone resources