Poonsak questions Industry Ministry's leniency on toxic factories

Thairath•Politics•7d ago

Reader Briefing

MP Poonsak Chanjampi questions why the Ministry of Industry ordered only improvements instead of temporary closures for factories leaking toxic substances in Chonburi.

•Poonsak Chanjampi reported industrial factories in Na Wang Hin, Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi, leaking chemicals and wastewater into village water sources.
•Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-acha ordered Chonburi Provincial Industry Office to inspect the area, confirming some factories did release wastewater.
•The Ministry of Industry ordered factories to improve systems under Section 37 of the Factory Act.
•Poonsak Chanjampi argued that Section 39 should have been used to suspend operations due to the severity of the pollution.

Overview

•On August 6, 2026, Poonsak Chanjampi spoke regarding the inspection of factories in Chonburi.
•Varawut Silpa-acha ordered the Chonburi Provincial Industry Office to investigate reports of chemical leaks and wastewater in Na Wang Hin, Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi.
•The Ministry of Industry issued orders for factories to improve systems within a specified timeframe under Section 37 of the Factory Act after finding wastewater leaks.
•The area was found to have not requested permission as an industrial estate, an industrial operation zone, or land allocated for industrial use.
•Poonsak Chanjampi thanked Varawut Silpa-acha for the prompt action but questioned the decision not to suspend operations under Section 39.
•One factory's operations resulted in strong acid contamination in adjacent ponds measuring ten thousand cubic meters.
•Poonsak Chanjampi expressed concern over the lack of investigation into the spread of contaminants into residents' groundwater wells.
•Poonsak Chanjampi called for additional inspections regarding the removal of industrial waste and whether waste management capacities were exceeded.

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Key Quotes

Poonsak Chanjampi

"What I want to report is that despite clear wrongdoing, the wastewater treatment system is unfinished and no air treatment system was found, yet Section 39 was not used to suspend operations."

ที่ผมอยากแจ้งคือ ทั้งๆ ที่เจอความผิดชัดเจน ระบบบำบัดน้ำเสียยังสร้างไม่เสร็จ แถมไม่พบระบบบำบัดอากาศ แต่ยังไม่สั่ง ม.39 ให้หยุดการประกอบกิจการไว้ก่อน

Key Entities

Person

Poonsak Chanjampi(พูนศักดิ์ จันทร์จำปี)

A list MP from the People's Party and member of the People's Party Environmental Issue Committee.

Varawut Silpa-acha(วราวุธ ศิลปอาชา)

The Minister of Industry.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party to which Poonsak Chanjampi belongs.

Ministry of Industry(กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️

The government ministry responsible for ordering the inspection and improvement of the factories.

Chonburi Provincial Industry Office(สำนักงานอุตสาหกรรมจังหวัดชลบุรี)

The provincial office tasked by the Minister of Industry to inspect the factories in Chonburi.

Pollution Control Department(กรมควบคุมมลพิษ)ℹ️

The agency coordinated by Poonsak Chanjampi to urgently measure chemical levels.

Place

Chonburi(ชลบุรี)ℹ️

The province where the polluting factories are located.

Na Wang Hin Subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom District(ตำบลนาวังหิน อำเภอพนัสนิคม)

The specific location in Chonburi where the industrial activities and pollution occurred.

Law

Factory Act 1992(พ.ร.บ.โรงงาน พ.ศ. 2535)

The law containing Section 37 for improvements and Section 39 for temporary suspension of operations.