PCD denies it is to blame for Klity creek
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The Pollution Control Department (PCD) insisted yesterday that it was not responsible for the lead contamination in Kanchanaburi province's Lower Klity village, which has affected residents for 14 years.
“At that time, PCD did not have the authority to grant permission to Lead Concentrate, which owned the mine and hence contaminated the Klity creek. We are not behind the problem, we just fixed it,” PCD’s director-general Wichien Jungrungruang said.
He was speaking at a press conference held at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to explain PCD job of rehabilitating Klity creek.
His announcement followed Judge Commissioner of Justice Panuphan Chairat’s statement on Tuesday before the Administrative Court’s panel of judges hearing the case issued a final verdict.
Panuphan recommended that the judges have PCD pay Bt3,872,000 or Bt176,000 to each of the 22 victims, because he believes that PCD had neglected its responsibility in controlling contamination of Klity creek or cleaning it up.
Wichien said PCD has tried continually on clean the creek over the past 14 years and has used natural recovery methods to rehabilitate the waterway as recommended by the National Environmental Board.
“We visited the Klity creek four times a year to collect samples to study the contamination,” he said.
Moreover, PCD will install a groyne to gather the sediment in the creek. Previously, PCD had removed 3,000 tonnes of sediment and buried it outside the village. It is awaiting laboratory tests to study the composition to see whether or not it is lead contaminated. The testing will provide key data on finding correct methods to recover the sediment and PCD expects the measure to put in place within two months.
“We hope the court will have some sympathy for us,” he said, adding that PCD would obey the court’s final verdict regardless.
