Team will regulate pollution in rivers

Published on September 3, 2007

The Industry Ministry has set up a special team to inspect the quality of wastewater released from more than 2,000 plants along four main rivers in order to reduce water pollution for communities.

The rivers are the Chao Phya, Tha Chin, Bang Pakong and Mae Klong. All the factories are located within one kilometre of the rivers.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Vitoon Simachokdee said most residents believed that pollution was mainly caused by wastewater from factories. Therefore, the ministry launched the pilot project to boost people's confidence and also to create more long-term harmony between industrial operators and communities.

Officials will discuss details again on Tuesday.

Part of the process means officials from the Industrial Works Department must collect samples of water from rivers and plants to verify its quality more frequently. The department intends to exercise stricter supervision over plants located within one kilometre of the rivers.

The project will also use an advanced aerial geographic system to monitor plants and collect data.

Vitoon said the ministry was considering approving the budget for the project in the next fiscal year. However, he declined to reveal the figures.

He said the Industry Ministry would also encourage the private sector to support the Industrial Works Department in solving industrial environmental problems using its new "4P programme" - public, private, pollution and prevention.

"All our future plans will focus on integrated cooperation. If operators cooperate, I believe problems in the industrial sector will be solved much faster and more easily," he added.

Water and air pollution have been major problems for the Industry Ministry following complaints from residents living near plants.

There are fears now that new plants will not be set up due to existing controversies. A number of petrochemical projects worth over Bt100 billion slated for Map Ta Phut, Rayong, have been stalled due to strong resistance from residents who claim to have been suffering from air and water pollution.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation