Tough action against factories emitting pollution

BANGKOK, Dec 8 (TNA) -- After receiving complaints from the public on factories and mines emitting pollution which is harmful to humans and environment, the Industry Ministry is going to take tough action against them as well as concerned government officials. Arthit Wuthikaro, permanent secretary for Industry, told journalists that severe measures to be implemented are aimed at building trust between operators of the factories and to also help support the government’s new policies on industrial clusters and on factories to be constructed within special economic zones. The tough measure came after the ministry last Friday sent circular letters to provincial industrial officers to carry out three urgent measures. They include preparations on monitoring and supervising plan on industries and mines and the report must be sent to the ministry within this Friday. The second requirement involves an actual inspection and to ask the entrepreneurs to strictly follow the law and to punish those violators. Provincial industrial officers must first report on the outcome of the inspection on next January 5. Afterwards, the report will have to be sent to the ministry on the fifth of every month. A special team of the ministry will closely study the assessment on factories and mines closely and disciplinary actions will be taken on government officials who are found cooperated with polluted enterprises. (TNA)