Coal firm shut in Ayutthaya over dust woes
Play
A coal mining and milling company in Ayutthaya province has been shut down for 90 days, pending improvements, after residents from Nakhon Luang district lodged complaints with the Interior Ministry's Damrongtham Centre a few weeks ago.
The provincial industrial office issued a notice yesterday requiring Pands Group Logistics Co to comply with the demand, after the plant discharged coal dust in nearby communities – a problem locals say has existed for several years.
The temporary closure starting this month will run until March 31.
The company’s owners could be jailed for up to six months and fined up to Bt50,000 if it is caught operating during the 90-day period, the notice warned.
Junlaphop Burajanyakul, the general manager of Pands Group Logistics, said the company would do its best to solve the coal-dust problem but it might take some time.
Boonsong Kinsawaathom, the head of tambon Nakhon Luang municipality, said residents were pleased with the news, as they had campaigned about the milling company for decades. He warned that if the company’s operations still caused an impact on villagers, its licence would not be renewed.
Bhubpha Cha-liengkot, 62, a local resident, said complaints to authorities over dust and discharge had fallen on deaf ears for 20 years. She said this would be her last battle to fight the company. If it failed, she would sell her home and relocate.
Another resident, Phatpitcha Poonsawat, 50, voiced doubt that the company would be sincere in tackling such a prolonged problem, saying it had installed dust-protection equipment just a few days before officials from the provincial industrial office came to examine the firm.
Many thousands of tonnes of coal have been processed and transported to factories in Ayutthaya. Black coal dust is everywhere in nearby homes. Villagers in Nakhon Luang district said they had endured coal particles for years.
