Minister: Water in and outside Thailand's flooded industrial estates is safe

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul confirmed on Monday that water in and outside Thailand's five flooded industrial estates is safe, as it is free from heavy metal and hazardous contaminants and can be used for agriculture, in line with the Pollution Control Department's standards. Dr. Wannarat told reporters after a meeting between authorities of the Ministries of Industry, Science and Technology and Public Health that relevant officials have tested the flood water every day and representatives of local communities have witnessed the tests for transparency. According to the industry minister, if the water at the flooded industrial sites was found hazardous or below the official standards, it would be treated with effective micro-organisms (EM) before being released to nearby canals to ensure safety to people and the environment. Meanwhile, the minister acknowledged that Factory Land Company in Thailand's central Ayutthaya Province has been now about 80 per cent dried out, with a dozen of manufacturers having resumed their operations and 70 others having rehabilitated their plants. For other industrial sites in Ayutthaya, the minister said that flood water is being pumped out of the Rojana Industrial Park, as well as the Bang Pa-in and the Hi-Tech Industrial Estates; while pumping out flood water at the Navanakorn Industrial Promotion Zone and the Bang Kradi Industrial Estate in Bangkok's suburban Pathum Thani Province will begin on November 18 and 25 respectively. (TNA)