Environment officials will now pay closer attention to new factories and their surrounds.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office is adopting strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) to assess the impact of industrial sites. These take into account opinions of communities and the ability of planned locations of factories to handle development, Industrial Works Department head Rachada Singalavanija said. The department has responsibility for factories.

At present, factories are subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) conducted by the office before being approved.

Rachada said EIAs were limited in focus and controlled only the level of pollution generated by individual factories, not the overall environmental picture.

"It is time for us to take into account all aspects of all problems and adopt new strategies to ensure peaceful co-existence between communities and industry," Rachada said.

"SEA guidelines are part of the National Economic and Social Development Plan for the years 2007 to 2011. But, we have not yet set a specific date to enforce it.".

Prime Minister Surayud Chula-nont yesterday acknowledged the rising number of pollution problems.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said the PM wanted six ministries responsible for tackling air and water pollution as well as natural disasters.

Surayud discussed the matter with the ministries of Science and Technology and Industry via teleconference. He was briefed about the country's air and water pollution situation. The Cabinet will consider action today.

"A system to collect data is needed. We need simulation software that can provide guidelines for long-term solutions," Yongyuth said. The National Disaster Warning Centre would be central to government efforts to combat pollution.

The need for better environmental protection was highlighted by two recent pollution incidents. Adding to the crises are wildfires in the North choking the region in a dense pall of smoke.

In Rayong, residents in 25 communities surrounding the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate have repeat-edly been diagnosed with fatal diseases. These were believed to have been caused by toxic emissions from factories.

The Map Ta Phut pollution crisis boosted opposition to plans to build more coal-fired electricity-generating plants at the estate.

In Angthong, thousands of fish were killed recently in a stretch of the Chao Phya River. Experts believe the cause was an illegal discharge of untreated waste into the waterway.

According to Rachada, the development board's five-year plan allows for special industrial zones. The size of factories and volume of emissions would be more strictly controlled. "Although this means it will be harder for industrial operators to set up new plants, their businesses will grow in a sustainable way in the long term. It will be much safer for our country and people, too," he said.

But strategic environmental assessments would will not be applied retroactively. "The Industrial Works Department can do nothing [about existing plants]. But we can draw up a plan to control and reduce pollution from each industrial area," he said.

His department will draw up plans to control wastewater from 2,000 industrial plants on the Chao Phya, Tha Chin, Mekong and Bang Pakong rivers.

"We have many ideas to improve the country's industrial sector. But, please give us some time," he said. "We have many limitations, including a tight government budget." His department received Bt473 million this fiscal year.

The department will encourage the private sector to support the department in solving industrial environmental problems using its new "4P programme" - public-private pollution prevention.

"If operators cooperate, I believe current problems in the industrial sector will be solved much faster and more easily. Their support will be a part of their corporate social responsibility, which will harmonise their business with communities," Rachada said.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation