• 
• 

Published on July 12, 2007

The mill in Tambon Deelang of Lop Buri's Phattana Nikhom district was ordered to shut down on June 14 for repairs to its roof and dust-control system.

"It has reported Bt3.35 million in repairs and improvements for the roof, furnace hood, vacuum-cleaning pipes and filter replacement," Samphan Kositpol, who heads the Lop Buri Industrial Works Office's

factory division, said yesterday.

Provincial industrial works chief Boonchu Iam-ek said a certified company would check dust particle levels in the vicinity of the mill.

"If it finds satisfactory results, the steelworks will be allowed to resume operations," he said.

Residents had complained that the mill released dust harmful to health.

One of them, Sanom Potirat, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with emphysema. He blames iron-dust emissions from the mill.

Namheng Steel compensated him for his medical expenses.

Pranom Ruangsri, another resident, said the community would not protest against the mill if it agreed not to discharge the harmful dust.

"I hope it will not do good just during the trial operations," she said.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation