Villagers reject radioactive storage facility near reservoir in Si Racha

2026-03-08 - 08:53

CHONBURI — 8 March 2026, More than 1,000 residents of Nong Kham subdistrict gathered to oppose the construction of a radioactive material storage facility for cobalt-60 built in the middle of their community, less than 50 m from Nong Kho Reservoir. Villagers said they feared potential environmental and health impacts if radioactive material were stored near residential areas and a key water source. Officials from the Nong Kham Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) said the structure had been built without permission. Construction had already been ordered halted on 20 January 2026, before Sunday’s public consultation. A photo taken outside one of the buildings allegedly built without permission Following the meeting, authorities concluded that the building must be demolished within 30 days. The public forum was held at 10:00 on Sunday at the dome hall of Wat Nong Leng School in Nong Kham subdistrict, Si Racha district. The issue came to light after residents of Village No. 11 alerted the SAO to the construction of a small building near the edge of Nong Kho Reservoir. The structure was marked with a hazardous material warning sign and surrounded by a fence with restricted access. The building itself measures about 4-by-4 metres, with a fenced compound of roughly 6-by-6 metres. Solar panels had also been installed to power surveillance cameras monitoring the site. Residents said they initially did not know what the building was for or who owned it, prompting them to request an inspection by local authorities. The SAO later found that the construction had not received building permission. A notice ordering the suspension of construction was posted at the site on 20 January. The developer, Costero (Thailand) Co., Ltd., represented by managing director Paiboon Jansangprateep, said the company had obtained approval from Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace. Local authorities therefore organised Sunday’s public meeting to allow residents to receive information and express their views on the project. A visit to the site showed the structure sits in the centre of a residential community, adjacent to a large housing estate and near Nong Kho Reservoir, which supplies water used to produce tap water for local consumption. One neighbouring homeowner, Sirirat Jittaree, said she only recently learned the building was intended for radioactive materials. “I live right next to it and didn’t know what they were building. Construction started around the middle of last year,” she said. “When I heard it would store radioactive substances, I was shocked. Our area is a residential community and the reservoir nearby supplies water for public use.” She urged authorities to reconsider approving such facilities near residential areas and water sources. “If officials are going to approve something like this, they should inspect the area first and consider zoning regulations,” she said. “There are villages and water sources all around here. Authorities should think about the people living nearby.” A resident speaks into a microphone to voice concerns about the project during the community meeting During the meeting, more than 1,000 residents, local officials and community leaders attended, including Nong Kham SAO chief Pichai Sotharawong, Si Racha district deputy chief Surachai Kamsri, and village leaders. A representative of Costero (Thailand) acknowledged that the company had not sought construction permission from the SAO and had not organised a public consultation before building the facility. The admission drew loud boos from residents attending the meeting. After discussions, officials asked attendees to vote by a show of hands on whether they supported the construction of the cobalt-60 storage facility. Residents raise their hands to oppose the controversial project during the community meeting Residents unanimously rejected the project. Following the vote, the Nong Kham SAO announced it would issue an order requiring the structure to be demolished within 30 days. Winai Doemsalung, 48, a local resident who attended the meeting, said villagers opposed the project because it had been built without proper permits and oversight. “People are worried about the impact. If something went wrong, how could we live here?” he said. “What would happen to our homes or land values? Who would buy property in this area?” He also raised concerns about possible contamination affecting the reservoir used to produce water for public consumption. SAO chief Pichai said the unanimous vote reflected the community’s clear opposition to the facility. “We will issue an official demolition order because the construction was carried out without permission,” he said. “The company will have 30 days to remove the building so residents can feel reassured.” He added that if the structure is demolished voluntarily and the site cleared, authorities may not pursue further legal action.