DSI keeps an eye on eco-damaging businesses

DSI chief Pol Colonel Thawee Sodsong said at a seminar on environmental law yesterday that his organisation had received many complaints about natural resources being destroyed in several provinces, especially those that are tourist destinations.

He said DSI was focused on cracking down on influential figures with repeated offences whom the Department of Industrial Works or local authorities could not touch due to insufficient evidence or witnesses who were too afraid.

However, he said, in order to tackle influential figures complainants can use other related laws. For example, they can file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court to revoke permits that allow companies to run businesses next to the coast. He said this would be a better solution than people filing cases with the DSI.

DSI deputy chief Pol Colonel Suchart Wonganantachai said the agency had already looked into several cases of factories releasing toxic waste into water sources.

He said, this greed-driven action not only damaged the environment but also people's health, which only made the problem more and more severe.

At present, the DSI is planning to take action on two cases: the releasing of toxic waste into water sources or by the road at 10 locations in Chon Buri and the destruction of corals and marine life in Phuket, he said.

Suchart added DSI would also take action against businesses that worked under the auspices of the Justice Ministry, but were damaging the environment. If the probe finds that state officials are involved, the case would be forwarded to the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission. If signs are seen of money laundering, the Anti-Money Laundering Office would also be brought in. Plus he said, the Narcotics Control Board would also be encouraged to look into the suspects' backgrounds, he added.

An informed source said that DSI had looked into the Chon Buri case and found that the toxic matter was being transported from a factory in an Eastern industrial estate to be treated, but the company hired to move the waste was dumping it. The company is also reportedly using substandard vehicles to carry the waste, the source said.