The House Committee on Industry wants to request a change to the law so that individuals who run factories and unlawfully dispose of industrial or chemical waste can be imprisoned.
Akaradej Wongpitakroj, a member of the committee, mentioned that currently they only receive fines for not following waste management regulations.
“Because of this, they don't bother to comply with the rules, as they just pay the fines and escape punishment. Therefore, the House Committee has decided to request a change to the law to include imprisonment,” he said, after attending a committee meeting at parliament.
Participants at the meeting also expressed worry about the fire at the chemical waste facility of Win Progress company in Rayong province, which began at the end of last month.
He mentioned that the fire caused pollution in the nearby area and around 600 individuals have reported breathing problems.
It is said that the fire is now being managed, but there is still smoke in some parts of the building.
“The current focus is on taking care of the affected people and the environment,” said Akaradej, a member of parliament from the United Thai Nation Party.
