Sugar disaster on Chao Phraya
The Nation 2011-06-03
Two districts of Ayutthaya have been declared disasterhit areas after a barge carrying 2,400 tons of sugar crashed into the riverbank in Phranakorn Si Ayutthaya district, dumping its load in the river on Tuesday.
Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Piewpong yesterday the two districts were Bang Sai and Bang Pain.
"The declaration will enable the process to give compensation to affected people," he said.
He believed the sugarpolluted river caused damages to fish in more than 100 floating baskets.
The May 31 accident also damaged two houses, which were located on the crashed bank.
Wittaya ordered the barge to be salvaged as soon as possible to prevent further damages to the water, fishes, as well as water traffic.
The sugar was suspected to be the cause of deaths of fishes in many areas in the province.
Commander Rachot Pakafoong, who heads Ayutthaya Marine Office, inspected the site and commented that strong current of water might have caused the accident.
"We will determine the exact cause after the barge is removed from the water," he said.
As of press time, nine pumps were used to remove sugar still trapped inside the sunken barge.
The sugar removal is expected to be completed this morning (Friday morning) after which the boat would be salvaged.
Sompong Intaaim, controller of the pumps, said that most of the sugar was still in the barge, not melting with the river water as earlier speculated.
Meanwhile, Pathum Thani Governor Pirasak Hinmueangkao said local agencies in his province were now closely monitoring the situation in a bid to minimise negative impacts from the sugar leakage. Pathum Thani is located downstream.
"We have been adding oxygen," Pirasak said.
Although some fishes in the river in Pathum Thani began to die en masse too, the governor still hoped that the impact would not be serious.
"It's raining. The rain will help," he said.
Moreover, he pointed out that if more fishes died, officials would catch the fish from the river and place them in privatelyrun fish farms first. After the situation improved, the fish would be released back to the river.
Wat Bot abbot Phra Udomsarn Sopon said he already ordered that 10 pumps be bought, installed, and turned on to increase oxygen amount in the water in front of his riverside temple.
"It should tackle waterquality problem," he said.
Pollution Control Department (PCD) director general Supat Wangwongwattana said relevant agencies would determine whether the barge owner should be held responsible for damages caused.
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