The Industrial Works Department has been instructed by the Industry Ministry to deal decisively with an industrial waste treatment facility in Ayutthaya province, which is accused of allowing toxic chemicals to be repeatedly leaked into the environment.

Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul said that chemicals were allegedly leaked from Aek Uthai Company in Uthai district in Ayutthaya last Saturday, which was the third recent incident, causing serious concerns among people living in the neighbourhood of the facility, including a hospital and a police station.

She said that the chemical leaks do not only threaten the lives of the people, but tarnish the reputation of the province and the country.

She also said that she does not want a repeat of the recent chemical fires at two chemical waste treatment facilities, Win Process in Rayong and Wax Garbage in Ratchaburi, to occur at the facility in Uthai district of Ayutthaya.

According to EARTH Thailand, an environment protection organisation, Aek Uthai Company was last ordered, by the provincial industrial works office, to stop receiving industrial waste for treatment in February last year, but it was discovered that the company continues with its business.

EARTH Thailand director Penchom Sae Tang accused the Industrial Works Department of not strictly enforcing the law.

According to the Khao 3 Miti TV programme, Aek Uthai, which has two other branch offices in Nakhon Ratchasima and Phetchabun, are closely connected to Win Process in Rayong, where a recent fire incident has not yet been properly resolved, prompting Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to reprimand the director-general of Industrial Works Department during his visit to Rayong at the weekend.