BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Some flood-hit industrial estates are set to start draining water and cleaning up their sites after the flood has receded, Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul said.
The greatest progress was seen at Factory Land Industrial Estate in Wang Noi district where the floodwater dropped to 20-30 per cent of the previously measured level. Twelve factories have already resumed operations and about 70 others are cleaning up.
Meanwhile, Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate plans a big cleaning day on Nov 17 before it restoring electricity and water supply, and will resume operations Nov 25.
Two other sites, Hi-Tech Industrial Estate and Rojana Industrial Park, will pump water out on the same day on Nov 30.
Rojana Industrial Park will start cleaning on Dec 1 and will use chemicals to eliminate the residual oil slick. Currently, floodwater at Rojana is 1.5 metres deep inside the site, and 1.1 metres deep outside. The Pollution Control Department has not found any toxic substances while inspecting Rajana’s water quality.
The minister said many plants will be able to resume operations in the beginning of December, except those whose machinery has been damaged.
At three estates, Saha Rattna Nakhon in Ayutthaya, and Bangkadi and Nava Nakhon in Pathum Thani, floodwaters remain high, so they must wait until the water level is lower than the dykes before draining operations start.
Regarding industrial estates in eastern Bangkok, Mr Wannarat emphasised that the situation at Bangchan Industrial Estate is still manageable, as the water level in two nearby canals receded by 2-5cm.
At Lat Krabang Industrial Estate, more pumps will be installed to speed the draining process.
The industry minister said he was confident neither Bangchan nor Lat Krabang will be flooded.
