PCD needs time to restore affected villages
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) will seek permission from the Supreme Administrative Court to delay the declaration of environmentally protected areas of Tak's Mae Tao River Basin, that have been affected by cadmium contamination for decades.
PCD’s measures to rehabilitate the cadmium-affected villages would cost Bt438 million.
Its appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court follows a decision by the Phitsanulok Administra-tive Court last month ordering the National Environmental Board (NEB) and PCD to declare the Mae Tao River Basin as an environmentally protected area within 90 days.
PCD director-general, Wichien Jungrungruang, said his department could not work within this period to designate the cadmium-affected villages as environmentally protected zones because many procedures were required for the zone designation.
“We need at least three years to work on this,” he said.
Citing guidelines set by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) for an environmentally protected area, he said the department must draft the plan and hold public hearings to listen to local opinion. Then it would submit the plan for the NEB’s deliberation before issuing the declaration.
The International Water Management Institute and Agricul-ture Department reported cadmium contamination in the Mae Tao River Basin in 2004.
After getting no response from agencies, 31 residents lodged a complaint with the Phitsanulok Administrative Court. They claimed agencies, including NEB on December 11, 2009, allowed a zinc mine to operate in their upstream area.
According to the complaint, the mine spread cadmium over paddy fields in tambons Mae Tao, Mae Ku and Phra That Pha Daeng.
Even though the department plans to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, Wichien said the NEB had ordered agencies, such as the Industry Ministry and Agricultural and Cooperatives, to restore the affected areas.
Under PCD’s recovery measures, 248 rai of tainted soil will be dredged up, while over 3,566 rai will be covered by a plantation. These measures are expected to be worked on as soon as possible, Wichien said.
Separately, the level of hazardous chemicals in waters around Koh Samet after the July oil spill is now lower than standard criteria. Officials said the seawaters were safe for swimming and diving – except for the Ao Phrao area.
