RAYONG, June 17- Thai Industry Ministry plans to establish environmental management centres at industrial estates across the country to ensure safety of communities near the industrial zones and to build confidence among foreign investors, according to Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti.
To resolve environmental impact caused by industrial pollutants at each industrial zone, Pongsvas said some environmental management centres have already been established.
The ministry planned to set up environmental management centres at industrial zone nationwide as well.
The environmental management centres were aimed at enhancing cooperation of all parties in responding to emergencies at each industrial estate as well as promoting participation of relevant officials, provincial governors and residents to closely monitor and tackle the problems.
Ahead of the cabinet meeting in Chon Buri this week, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her entourage, including the industry minister, on Sunday visited the Map Ta Phut industrial estate to inspect and follow up plans resolving environmental impact and to observe an emergency response drill.
Regarding financial assistance for persons affected by an explosion and fire at the Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) petrochemical factory at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate and chemical leak at the Aditya Birla Chemicals (Thailand) factory in the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in early May, Bt1 million compensation was distributed to the families of each salaried employee killed in the incidents, and Bt500,000 for each day worker who died in the incidents.
