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Yotsanan tackles Kok-Sai river toxins with China and Myanmar

Yotsanan tackles Kok-Sai river toxins with China and Myanmar

Prachachat•Economy•13m ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister Yotsanan Wongswat is coordinating with China and Myanmar to investigate mining sources of toxins contaminating the Kok and Sai rivers.

  • •Yotsanan Wongswat is leading efforts to resolve toxic contamination in the Kok and Sai rivers using science and international cooperation.
  • •Thailand is coordinating with China to track situations and potentially establish a central laboratory for consistent analysis.
  • •Domestic measures include deploying rapid test kits from Synchrotron-Nanotec and the Department of Science Service.
  • •The government is studying the use of check dams and sediment trapping systems to reduce arsenic levels from upstream.

Overview

  • •Yotsanan Wongswat is coordinating with China and Myanmar to investigate the sources of toxins originating from mines in neighboring countries.
  • •Yotsanan Wongswat mentioned that discussions between Thai and Chinese leaders included cooperation on monitoring and the establishment of a central laboratory.
  • •Chiang Rai province is currently procuring backup and alternative water sources under the direction of the Provincial Governor.
  • •The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) is implementing water filtration and community water supply systems.
  • •The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has coordinated with Synchrotron-Nanotec and the Department of Science Service to provide rapid test kits for local water quality checks.
  • •Rapid test kits are being deployed so that residents and local agencies can access water quality data quickly without waiting for laboratory results.
  • •Yotsanan Wongswat is considering the use of check dams and sediment trapping systems to capture arsenic-contaminated sediment at the upstream level.
  • •Yotsanan Wongswat will coordinate with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to form a working group to support negotiations with neighboring countries.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Yotsanan Wongswat
"As Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the North, I will not abandon the people of the North; regardless of the roles involved, it is necessary for us to take care of one another."
ในฐานะรองนายกฯ ดูแลภาคเหนือ ไม่ทิ้งคนเหนืออยู่แล้ว ไม่ว่าจะบทบาทที่เกี่ยวข้องหรือไม่เกี่ยวข้อง เรามีความจำเป็นต้องดูแลซึ่งกันและกันอยู่แล้ว

Key Entities

Person

Yotsanan Wongswat(ยศชนัน วงศ์สวัสดิ์)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Place

Kok River(แม่น้ำกก)ℹ️
A river affected by toxic contamination.
Sai River(แม่น้ำสาย)
A river affected by toxic contamination.
China(จีน)ℹ️
A country coordinating with Thailand to investigate water contamination sources.
Myanmar(เมียนมา)ℹ️
A country where mining areas associated with toxins are located.
Chiang Rai(เชียงราย)ℹ️
The province implementing backup water sources and managing water quality issues.

Organization

Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation(กระทรวงการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม)ℹ️
The ministry coordinating with specialized agencies to provide water quality test kits.
National Science and Technology Development Agency(สำนักงานพัฒนาวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยีแห่งชาติ)ℹ️
The agency managing water filtration and community water supply systems.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️
The ministry to be coordinated with to form a working group for neighboring country negotiations.
Synchrotron-Nanotec(ซินโครตรอน–นาโนเทค)
The expert agency supporting the provision of water quality analysis test kits.
Department of Science Service(กรมวิทยาศาสตร์บริการ)
The agency supporting scientific data and analysis for water quality.