Factories not opposed to fresh probe

>>LAMPHUN : The Lamphun Industrial Estate has welcomed a fresh pollution investigation.

Villagers from 18 communities living close to the industrial zone have repeatedly lodged complaints with concerned agencies that contrary to claims by factory operators, industrial pollution was still damaging the people's health in the area.

Disputes between the villagers and the industrial estate have continued for years.

Pairoj Hathakam, the Lamphun Industrial Estate's director, said factory operators are always the scapegoats whenever there are reports about environmental pollution.

He was speaking after delegates of the Asia-Pacific Health Impact Assessment conference visited communities affected by industrial pollution in this northern province on Thursday.

Villagers told the visiting delegates how contaminated waste from polluting factories was being released and affecting their health and causing all sorts of pollution-related illnesses.

Mr Pairoj, however, dismissed the villagers' accounts.

"We welcome all investigations into the pollution allegations. We have a perfect laboratory to check the water quality before any discharging is done. We check our water quality around the clock," said Mr Pairoj.

There are a total of 75 plants, mostly involved in the production of electronics, automobile parts, leather goods and jewellery at the 1,788-rai industrial site. Over 48,000 workers, 38% of them Lamphun natives, are employed.

The villagers were overcome with joy when they were told 26 years ago that an industrial estate would be built here, since the authorities had assured them at the time that only an agribusiness industry would be set up, said Banyat Tanaosri, chairman of tambon Tonthong administration organisation.

But they never kept their word and today heavy industries are degrading the surrounding environment.

The Mae Kuang river, the lifeline of the Lamphun villagers, and which also flows through neighbouring Chiang Mai, was the first to be affected.

"Massive fish deaths are a regular feature here. We have lodged many complaints, but to no avail," said Mr Banyat.

Wanchai Sripob, from Chang Kong village in Maung district, said his family has hardly used the river water since the construction of the industrial estate. His house is located close to the estate's waste water drainage pipe.

Whenever there is a waste water discharge, the river turns red and releases a terrible smell, said the villager.

Mr Wanchai believes the factories were not treating their waste water before discharging it.

In the dry season, the river nearly dries up as factories pump water from the river for industrial use, leaving villagers without water for washing or farming, he said.

"Forget about underground water. We stopped using it a long time ago because it had been found to be contaminated with heavy metals," Mr Wanchai said.

Industries in this northern province are not only exploiting the natural resources and the environment, but also destroying people's health, he said.

Wunpen Printrakun, a coordinator of the Lamphun-based Hariphunchai Research Institute, said the institute had examined the health of workers in the 62 factories operating in the industrial estate in 2007. Its study found 24% of the workers were afflicted with eyesight problems, while 17% had developed hearing disorders.

Over 3,700 workers showed abnormal blood cell counts, 426 suffered from lung ailments and 813 had liver problems. High levels of lead and chromium were detected in some workers' blood.

The Lamphun Industrial Estate chief, however, refuted the villagers' claims and believes the pollution was being caused by riverside factories operating outside the industrial zone as well as untreated waste water being released by the municipality.