BPMG 3063 RAIL TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT (B)

FIRST SEMESTER SESSION 2021/2022 (A211)

GROUP TASK: CASE STUDY

PREPARED FOR:

DR SUHAILA ABDUL HANAN

PREPARED BY:

MATRICS NO. NAME

1 268068 FATIN KHALEEDA BINTI KAMARUDIN
2 268080 NUR SAFIAH BINTI MOHD FADIL
3 268118 IZZAH ZURINA BINTI HASSAN
4 272551 SOBANA SARHAT

SUBMITTED DATE: 18TH JANUARY 2022

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a decision-support tool for those deciding whether
or not to approve a development plan. It provides data on the likely implications of
infrastructural development to those making the decision. The primary aim of an EIA is to
analyse the possible environmental, social, and health effects of a proposed development so
that those who make decisions about the project's development and evaluation are aware of the
likely impacts of the project before making them, and thus are more responsible. Its goal is to
make decision-making more informed and transparent while also attempting to avoid,
eliminate, or mitigate potentially harmful effects by considering alternative ideas, sites, or
methods.

Climate change

Environmental aspects that would be included in this project climate change of the countries.
The Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border Economic Zone (SBEZ) is a new development that
spans roughly 11,000 acres along the Kedah-Sadao border in Thailand. In this case, the land
will be used for construction of the project which can cause global warming or climate change.
Even though it may increase job opportunity, but these buildings and construction can put the
world at more risk. It is because buildings such as transportation and land hub, and commercial
business district need heavy construction which will change the temperature or climate of that
place.

In addition, building inland port in SBEZ can cause changes in climate too. Inland port need
variety of facilities to ensure the process of the development run smoothly which will require
new buildings at the side. These changes may increase temperature of the location as well as
can cause global warming. The requirement to warm up and cool down the structure accounts
for the majority of a building's energy consumption, especially if the structure was not intended
to be energy efficient in terms of insulation and ventilation. Therefore, government body need
extra concern in implementing this project which can increase the profit, job opportunity and
economic at the same time increase the environmental issues which will give negative impact
in the long run. In short, during screening stage in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),
the government must identify the significant impact of this project and improve in term of
protecting the environment.

Ecosystem quality is one of the aspects of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) which could
be defined as the area of Protection that accounts for impacts on the natural environment. As
mentioned in the case study, the new inland port in Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border
Economic Zone (SBEZ) by focusing on the development of sustainable and efficient logistic
chains, clusters and modes of transport. Other than that, this development will boost the
logistics activities and economic at cross border Malaysia-Thailand.

Ecosystem quality

From the perspective of sustainable development in logistics chain could be found in this
ecosystem quality. Furthermore, the "Development that meets current demands without
jeopardising future generations' ability to satisfy their own needs" is how sustainable
development is described. Needs encompasses more than just monetary requirements; they also
include values, relationships, and the freedom to think, act, and participate, all of which
contribute to moral and spiritual sustainability. Indeed, the term "sustainable development" is
widely used and is likely familiar to many people both inside and outside academia, especially
in more developed parts of the world. It's a term that appears in a variety of contexts, from curb
side recycling to media explanations of global security crises. It informs studies ranging from
social exclusion in cities to the outcomes of environmental transformations in rural areas in
human geography.

On the other hand, the new inland development could encourage or give support from the term
of ecosystem quality that include in the aspects of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). The
development of that area will be increasing the ecosystem quality of that area which is from
the point of view of the economic term. The new development of Bukit Kayu Hitam Special
Border Economic Zone (SBEZ) consists of the Kedah Science & Technology Park (KSTP) and
Kota Perdana SBEZ (KPSBEZ).

The contribution of the Kedah Science & Technology Park (KSTP) will be focuses on two
components which include the Global Research Centre (GRC) and Modern Industrial Park as
economic drivers for Kedah through applied research and development. Besides, both
components could be reach expected to create 23,242 new jobs for the locals and contribute
approximately RM72.7 billion to Malaysia’s GDP.

Human health

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) informs and supports an application for consent to
proceed with a project. It evaluates the likely significant environmental impacts of planning
decisions within a project. In this project of building a new inland port in SBEZ, human health
should be address in the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The public health profession
typically uses the definition of health that is written into the WHO constitution, whereby health
is defined as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity’. There may also be issues with regards to participation, human
health and environmental justice.

These impacts can be significant in terms of whether a new project is considered acceptable by
people living in that area. The distribution of health impacts across the population should be
considered, paying specific attention to vulnerable groups. Where impacts that are unfair and
avoidable are identified appropriate measures should be included to avoid or reduce adverse
health outcomes, or to improve health, and other, outcomes for affected groups. Including the
human health and right into the EIA are needed to maintain the quality of the environment
relative to the needs of the growing population. It is for sure that with these project rapid
development activities will come the environmental problems associated with it and for the
environmental problems that might happen will affect human health.

Resources

One of the environmental aspects that will be arise in those new projects which is the SBEZ at
Bukit Kayu Hitam are earth resources that will be affected such as forest resources that because
of SBEZ policies, the need for land to create infrastructure has grown, putting more pressure
on forests and agricultural regions. Forested land designated for infrastructure development
because of SBEZ regulations was selected from both forest reserves and degraded forest
regions. There have been instances where this area was recognised as public land prior to these
designations. These allocations are contentious because they allow government and private
sector entities to plan land use changes without taking current forest ecosystems or local usage
into account. These conditions frequently result in conflict, such as: in Thailand which is SBEZ
area in Chiang Rai Strong confrontations erupted in Chiang Rai province in 2015-2016, notably
in the Boonrueang wetland, which was slated for development as an industrial zone.
Boonrueang forest is a public area that people in the local community use as food supplies,
water resources for agriculture, and a source of fish spawning from the Mekong River during
the rainy season due to its high biodiversity. By 2015, the Boonrueng wetlands had grown to
over 3,786 rai, making it the basin's biggest wetland. The forest products provide income to
617 households, amounting to 23,178.37 baht per home per year. Next are, environmental
aspects that arise from resources aspects are, water resources land use management plays an
important part in ensuring that water resources are of high quality.

Natural regions are frequently industrialised and urbanised as a result of SBEZ development.
As a result, competing applications put strain on water supplies, which must be regulated. As
a result, SBEZs may have an impact on water availability for agriculture, home water supply,
and the environment. In the future, it is projected that multiple SBEZs would contribute to
water scarcity. Furthermore, air quality also will be aspect that related to SBEZ project that
will develop later those increased emissions are also projected as a result of SBEZ-related
urban and industrial expansion. Increased greenhouse gas, particle, and volatile organic
compound emissions are all part of this. The following effects on the health of the local
population have been documented.

Lastly, problems with waste and sewage that SBEZs are becoming more urbanised and
industrialised, putting more strain on ecosystems. The fast increase of industrial development
and tourism creates growing volumes of solid and hazardous waste, which urban settings can
no longer adequately process. Pollution-related difficulties, such as the build-up of solid waste
and sewage in urban areas, affect all provinces in the SBEZs. The treatment and disposal of
solid waste must be prioritised in the establishment of SBEZs. Small, clustered garbage
collecting locations linked to bigger waste disposal sites should be established as part of a range
of waste management sites. According to 2016 research on Thailand's municipal trash
management, several provinces are experiencing solid waste accumulation issues, which are
exacerbated when these projects are executed. According to this data, provinces that have
implemented SBEZs have the highest volume of undisposed solid waste. This is especially
widespread in the Special Economic Zones and the Eastern Economic Corridor, particularly in
Chachoengsao, which had 1,242,000 tonnes of undisposed garbage in 2016.
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