ARLO earmarks land to help decontaminate Klity Creek
LAND IN Kanchanaburi province owned by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO) has been approved for use in the rehabilitation of the lead-contaminated Klity Creek, Agriculture Deputy Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn said yesterday.
After chairing a meeting with the Agricultural Land Reform Committee meeting in Bangkok, Wiwat said ARLO has also approved the purchase of 88 rover-type GNSS (global navigation satellite system) geo-spatial positioning sets to boost the state’s land-management capacity.
The committee also approved in principle the use of three ARLO land plots – one of 62 rai (9.92 hectares), the second a 2-rai plot and another covering 10 rai – in tambon Cha Lae of Thong Pha Phum district to accommodate the rehabilitation of Klity Creek, he said.
The decision is subject to the verification of supporting details and further procedures before implementation.
The land, within the grounds of a former lead-processing factory and its sludge pond, was deemed by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) as having dangerous levels of lead and unsuitable for inhabitation or agriculture, and hence was in need of rehabilitation. A 60 centimetre-thick layer of rock will be placed to prevent the leakage of lead and refilled with clean soil, the PCD proposed.
The 88 GNSS sets, which will cost around Bt36 million, are a key part of an accurate and internationally accepted GNSS Network and will replace ARLO’s previous land-survey method, the deputy minister said.
The new system will also boost ARLO’s capacity in land management and help resolve land disputes, Wiwat said.
The committee also approved a Bt5.3-million budget to supply water and electricity in the 1,640-rai of land ARLO has granted to 89 farmers in Chon Buri’s tambon Khao Sok of Nong Yai district and tambon Bo Thong of Bo Thong district, he added.