Plan for construction of toxic waste management estate materializes

BANGKOK, December 13 (TNA) - Three government agencies are planning to set up an industrial estate for toxic waste management in Thailand, according to Weerapong Chaiperm, governor of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). Weerapong said IEAT and the Department of Industrial Works are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Defence Industry Department either late this month or in January next year to select an area for the construction of the industrial estate which would be responsible for managing industrial waste under the policy of Industry Minister Chakramon Phasukvanich. Under the plan, the industrial estate will be built on a large piece of land of at least 10,000 rai. Some 6,000 rai will be used for eradicating general and toxic waste and the remaining 4,000 rai will be used as a buffer zone to ensure environment protection. Currently, Thailand produces as much as three million tonnes of toxic waste annually. Designs and construction of the new estate will take about two years while it is expected that it could offer its services in 2017. The project’s investment budget is estimated at 20 billion baht. (TNA)