On January 10, 2025, Mr. Phorayot Klangkrong, Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, assigned officers of the Industrial Waste Management Division to take Mr. Chiwaphap Chiwaphatham, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, and his team to inspect a warehouse storing thousands of tons of hazardous chemicals along the Uthai-Phachi Road, Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Industry Office, the Pollution Control Department, the Department of Groundwater Resources, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NRECD), and relevant agencies jointly visited the area to follow up on the progress of solving the problem of illegally bringing in hazardous chemicals and industrial waste to hide and dump in the warehouse.
The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) has explained the results of its operations during August-December 2024, stating that it has hired S.K. Interchemical Co., Ltd. under the 2024 budget of 6.9 million baht to move over 800 tons of hazardous chemicals and over 100 tons of contaminated electrical wires for disposal. Mr. Ekkanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, has approved the request for a budget allocation from the central budget for the 2025 fiscal year to manage the remaining 7,000 tons of hazardous chemicals and industrial waste (including approximately 3,000 tons of chemically contaminated soil), which is currently undergoing the relevant procedures.
From the inspection of warehouses 1-2, which had a fire at the beginning of 2024, there were still dangerous chemicals that looked like boiling oil. When using acid-base test paper, it was found that the paper rotted and burned immediately. In addition, in warehouses 4-5, which were previously set on fire in May 2024, there were 2 deep holes. It is believed that it was caused by a chemical reaction that caused wastewater to bubble up, causing the ground in that area to turn orange. This is consistent with the connection to toxic waste cases that have repeated similar offenses in other provinces, such as Phetchabun, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Rayong.
The chairman of the committee assigned relevant agencies to urgently investigate the facts and take urgent action to solve the problem to prevent widespread impacts on society in the future.
#Department of Industrial Works #Department of Industrial Works #DIW #MIND #Ministry of Industry #save Thai industry #save the environment #Phachi warehouse #illegal dumping of waste #industrial waste #Committee on Natural Resources and Environment