Prachin Buri residents file complaint over factory illegally smelting toxic waste in a national forest reserve
A major controversy has erupted in Prachin Buri province after a group of residents revealed that a factory has been illegally smelting toxic waste within a national forest reserve. This has caused significant concern among local people, who fear long-term impacts on the environment and the health of the community.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the area is forest land that should be under conservation, yet a factory has been established there to process industrial and hazardous waste. By law, such operations must be properly licensed and located only in designated areas. The discovery of a factory in a forest reserve raises critical questions about who authorized the use of this land and how it was monitored by the relevant authorities.
Residents and civil society networks in Prachin Buri have called on responsible government agencies to urgently investigate the facts to identify and prosecute the offenders. They are also demanding transparency regarding land-use permits to ensure that the national forest reserve is protected from encroachment by illegal business entities.
Currently, the relevant authorities in Prachin Buri are gathering information and planning an inspection of the factory to assess the damage caused to natural resources. If wrongdoing is confirmed, legal action will be taken strictly in accordance with the Forest Act and other relevant laws.
This incident serves as a significant lesson in toxic waste management in Thailand, and the public is closely monitoring how quickly government agencies can resolve the issue and restore justice for nature and the local community.