Officials Scramble to Contain Oil Slick Threatening Prachin Buri River
Environmental authorities have mobilised several agencies to contain an oil slick found in Prachin Buri province. They are moving quickly to stop contaminated runoff from reaching local waterways as floodwaters begin to recede.
On Sunday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said he had been briefed by Surin Worakijthamrong, Director-General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), about a film of oil spotted across parts of the province.
Suchart has directed the PCD to work closely with provincial offices and other relevant bodies. Their tasks include monitoring water quality, limiting the spread of the oil, and preventing it from seeping into the Prachin Buri River, where it could threaten public health and the local ecosystem.
The PCD, together with the Region 7 Environmental and Pollution Control Office in Saraburi and local officials in Si Maha Phot district, began field inspections on October 17. Floodwaters are easing, but residents remain worried about the oil on the surface and the possibility of hazardous contamination.
Joint inspection teams from the PCD, the provincial natural resources office and the industrial sector have widened their surveys to cover the Si Maha Phot and Si Mahosot districts.
Green Environment and Technology Co., Ltd. has been told to intensify its own site checks and adopt tighter measures to keep wastewater from leaking out of its factory grounds.
The Marine Department has also been asked to supply oil booms to protect natural drainage channels from the spread of hydrocarbons.
To strengthen containment, booms and absorbent pads have been installed at three key points along the Bang Phluang Canal, at the Kham Phak Chi, Muang Khao and Hua Phai Thes bridges. Any oil film that is detected is being systematically soaked up with absorbent materials and disposed of according to environmental regulations.
Suchart stressed that water monitoring will continue while laboratory samples are analysed to guide longer-term corrective action. He reaffirmed that controlling pollution and keeping communities safe remain the government's top priorities.