Bangkok: Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to addressing the contamination issues in the Kok River. He emphasized the continuous monitoring of water quality on a weekly basis and clarified that images of swollen fish were due to parasites rather than toxic substances. Chalermchai urged the media to prioritize government information and announced that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment would convene a meeting to summarize findings and communicate them to the public.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chalermchai addressed criticisms regarding the government’s approach to the Kok River contamination issue, stating that he had engaged in discussions with relevant stakeholders as of June 3rd. He instructed Mr. Chatuporn Buruspat, the Permanent Secretary, to organize a meeting on June 4th at 9:00 a.m. to compile information for submission to the National Environment Board, led by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Chantarawongthong.
Mr. Chalermchai attributed the contamination issues to mining activities in Myanmar, specifically in Shan State, which is under the control of the Wa Red group and outside the Myanmar government’s jurisdiction. Despite these challenges, the minister assured that measures are being implemented to address the problem. He highlighted the regular monitoring of water quality at ten different locations along the river. Moreover, the Department of Fisheries confirmed that the fish deformities were caused by parasites, while the Department of Water Resources has been working to retain water to allow sedimentation and removal of contaminants.
In his statement, Mr. Chalermchai urged media outlets to rely on government sources for information on the issue, noting the presence of both accurate and inaccurate reports in the public domain. He emphasized the difficulty in correcting public perception once misinformation circulates.
When asked about the outcomes of the morning meeting, Mr. Chalermchai mentioned that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was already implementing various measures. The meeting aimed to consolidate these efforts and present them to the public. He stressed that resolving the Kok River issue requires collaboration among multiple agencies, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment playing a key role.