Environmental problems along the Eastern Seaboard could worsen after the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) -- the government's pet industrial development project -- comes online, according to Environment Minister Gen Surasak Kanjanarat.

"We will get more money from the EEC, but exchanging that for unhealthy air quality and a dirty environment. Would that be okay?" he said.

"All development must have impacts and we have a duty to limit them," he told a public hearing on the draft environment plan for the corridor covering 2018-2021 organised by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep).

"To prevent problems, we should pursue environmental protection at a level higher than we have before. If we remain at the same level, I ,for sure, can say our environmental management plan will not be successful," Gen Surasak said.

Onep has just completed its environment plan for the corridor. The draft will be forwarded to the national committee on EEC policy chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for approval later this year.

The draft centres on environment management frameworks for Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao provinces. The plan will focus on ensuring cleaner production and promoting natural resource conservation in order to achieve sustainable development.

The plan calls for factories to conduct initial environmental examination (IEE) reports and then provide environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and environmental and health impact assessment (EHIAs).

It also demands authorities improve standards in approving these assessments. The plan also asks developers and the authorities to conduct strategic environmental assessments to find alternative development methods if a project is deemed too environmentally unfriendly. For natural resource conservation, the plan requires authorities to declare three reservoirs in Rayong province environmental protected areas. They are the Dok Krai, Nong Plalai and Klong Yai reservoirs.

It also requires them to develop a former dump site and areas polluted by waste into forest and green areas. The plan looks to increase forestry in the EEC by 10%.

Onep also stipulates that environmental management embrace public participation.

The Eastern Seaboard -- the country's first and largest industrial zone -- has been blighted by pollution especially industrial pollution from industrial garbage, wastewater and air pollution from factories. According to data revealed at yesterday's hearing, only 30% of wastewater in the region has been properly managed. Meanwhile treated water has been discharged into the sea, affecting coastal marine ecology as salinity levels have been diluted.

Onep's Urban Environmental and Area Planning Office director, Somsak Bundao, voiced concern that environmental problems will pose major challenges for the EEC, despite government assurances it will make the EEC environmentally friendly as possible.

Mr Somsak said the population will likely double to 18 million by 2037. As a result, wastewater could reach 614 million cubic metres in 2037, up from 277.16 million last year. The region has a current capacity to treat up to 53.28 million cubic metres of wastewater per year.

The government plans to invest over 1.5 trillion baht over the next five years in the EEC, beginning with infrastructure, including high-speed train routes, and deep-sea port expansion at Laem Chabang in Chon Buri and Map Tha Phut in Rayong.