Bangkok: 'Phatthapong' has launched a new website aimed at monitoring transboundary water pollution, asserting that the service is free of charge and that data gathered can be utilized by the public and governmental bodies alike. According to Thai News Agency, the initiative spearheaded by Mr. Phatarapong, an MP from the People's Party, represents a significant step in tackling water pollution issues stemming from transboundary mines. Mr. Phatarapong emphasized that the website's creation involved no governmental expenditure, allowing both citizens and authorities access to crucial data.
Mr. Pattarapong Leelaphat, MP for Chiang Mai Constituency 8 and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transboundary Water Pollution, officially launched the website https://waterpollution.disaster-mp.org/. The platform aims to inform the public about water pollution caused by mining activities in neighboring countries. It aggregates data from various government and private agencies, offering a comprehensive overview of pollution issues affecting the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, Salween, and Kraburi rivers. The website features detailed information on water and sediment toxicity tests, agricultural product evaluations, mine locations in neighboring countries, satellite imagery, and animated descriptions of river flow routes.
Plans to enhance the system are already in motion, as Mr. Phatarapong intends to incorporate more complete data, including water and sediment test results from the Kraburi River, fish testing outcomes, and import-export statistics on minerals at Thailand's border checkpoints.
Mr. Phatarapong disclosed that the website was independently developed without a budget, as he personally undertook the task of building the monitoring platform, utilizing the data compiled by the subcommittee on transboundary water pollution. The only expense incurred was a few hundred baht for the website domain.
He pointed out the lack of systematic data integration by the government regarding water pollution from foreign mines, and expressed his willingness to manage and consolidate all available data into a unified system. This effort aims to enable citizens to fully comprehend the problem of river pollution from neighboring country mines, identify its origins, understand its impact on water sources, and collaborate in monitoring the extent of transboundary water pollution.
"I hope the government will use this information to negotiate with neighboring countries to resolve the problems directly for the people in the affected areas, not just by measuring pollution, but by addressing the mining operations that are the root cause of the problem," Mr. Phatarapong stated.