Improvement Plans Established for Map Ta Phut Industrial Zone

The improvement plan for Map Ta Phut industrial estate was recently proposed to the Cabinet by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). The plan provides solutions to all issues within the industrial site that are relevant to the environment, society, the economy and basic infrastructure.

Additionally, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed related agencies to begin to develop an emergency plan for natural disasters. The plan is to focus on three issues:

1. The evacuation of residents and the removal of machinery out of factories during a crisis—procedures to be supervised by a command center in each province.

2. The adoption of environmentally-friendly practices in provinces where there are many industrial sites, such as Rayong and Ayutthaya. Such practices will include regular inspections of factories, pollution reduction, good management of industrial waste and water treatment.

3. The new zoning of Map Ta Phut industrial estate, which will be overseen by the Ministry of Interior, aiming to keep residential areas separated from the industrial site and green zones.

In addition, risk mitigation measures are expected to be formulated in every province to lower the risk of health problems for residents living near industrial sites.