Kalasin locals kick up stink over molasses

Storage ponds said to be causing pollution

KALASIN: Locals yesterday signed a petition to pressure Mitr Phol Bio Fuel Co Ltd, an affiliated firm of Mitr Phol Group, to scrap the expansion of molasses storage in the area which they say is causing pollution in the community.

Chaloei Pensri, a 59-year-old resident of Ban Dong Man, said the gathering of signatures was conducted in objection to the construction of three new molasses ponds in tambon Som Sa-at.

They also called on the company to solve pollution problems caused by the 10 existing ponds which include a pungent smell and leakage.

Molasses is derived from sugar refining and ethanol processing.

Mr Chaloei said residents already distrusted the company as it failed to inform them when it built the earlier ponds.

He said the firm was not sincere as it only held a public hearing on the project after more than half of the first new pond was completed.

Mr Chaloei said residents have been suffering from respiratory problems due to air pollution caused by the company’s activities.

Khamma Srikruadong, 68, a Ban Don Man resident, said besides public health, the leaks from the ponds also cause damage to local farmland, particularly in the rainy season.

Although several residents wanted to sell their houses, nobody, except the company, wanted to buy due to the foul smell, he added.

The community resistance came after Mitr Phol Bio Fuel announced plans to build an additional three molasses ponds in Ban Don Man in tambon Som Sa-at.

In response to public opposition, Mitr Phol Bio Fuel issued a statement yesterday, insisting it was strongly committed to public safety and the environment and was willing to listen to opinions from all sides.

The firm also explained that it already submitted the wastewater treatment expansion’s plan to the Som Sa-at Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) and dug up the first pond on March 23.

Nevertheless, the company later suspended the construction and held public hearings on the project in Ban Dong Man as well as Ban Kok Tan in tambon Bua Khao after receiving a letter from the TAO on April 26 instructing the firm to gather public opinion on the issue first.

On May 3, the company decided to suspend the new molasses pond plans due to public concerns over environmental damage affecting their health and agricultural farming.

The company also agreed to improve the existing ponds by reinforcing ridges around them to prevent leaking and to take measures to prevent the foul smell.

Chanasak Thongphanuek, an official attached to the Kalasin Provincial Industry Office, reportedly told media that the site inspection found the company would increase the level of the pond ridges six metres above ground level and cover the facilities with plastic sheets, 1.5 millimetres in thickness, to prevent leaks and contain the unpleasant odour.

TAO deputy chairman Siam Namuangrak, who represents the residents, said the agency has received numerous complaints about the issue from residents.

Residents in three other tambons — Sam Kha, Kut Khao and Bua Khao — have also been affected by pollution caused by the ponds, he said.