Mayor says 11 tambon will reduce garbage after residents raise a public stink
Following public complaints of foul smell coming from a garbage dumpsite in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa district, Tambon Bang Nai Si mayor Somchai Prasertpong on Friday revealed that the 11 municipalities have agreed to reduce the amount of trash sent to the site by 30 per cent by January 1, 2018.
Tambon Takua Pa would also take charge of ensuring faster burial of garbage to reduce the foul smell, he said. Somchai urged people in the area to be patient as the issue couldn't be solved in one or two months He also said that if the 11 municipalities failed to reduce garbage as agreed, the dumpsite might be temporarily closed.
Somchai’s comments were made after many residents of Ban Pru Tiew, which is located 300 metres away from the dumpsite, complained publicly through the media that they could no longer stand the decade-long stink and increased fly population.
Local citizens said they had filed complaints with many agencies but didn’t get any concrete aid to address problems with the 217-rai (34.7 hectare) dumpsite, which is funded by provincial budget via Tambon Takua Pa.
Food vendor Urai Sirisku complained that the foul smell and flies have driven away her customers and made her ill.
“Many people sold their homes to move out of the area. I also think about this myself,” she said.
Neighbour Khanong Thanomsak said people have to use facemasks to protect themselves from the foul smell, which he suspected is caused by garbage being left out in the open between scheduled burials.
