05 October 2003

ENVIRONMENT

The water supply for communities living near Mae Moh lignite mine in Lampang province is contaminated with three toxic substances, sparking fresh fears for villagers already suffering the environmental fallout of the mine's coal-fired power plant.

A report prepared by the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office revealed the amounts of arsenic, chromium and manganese in almost all water sources around the mine had reached critical levels.

The report added the water was no longer suitable for human consumption.

``Not one state agency has warned the villagers about this,'' said Maliwan Nakwirote, a resident of Ban Huay King, located not far from the mine.

Samples collected from the water sources were examined between July and October last year.

However, Ms Maliwan said she only learned about the level of toxic substances in the local water supply when she met a provincial official last month. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which operates the mine, had issued no health warnings, she said.

Ms Maliwan said the presence of toxic substances would add to the health concerns of villagers who were forced to rely on artesian wells. ``We have not been able to collect rainwater for a long time [because of the vicinity of the coal-fired plant] and there are no taps in the village,'' she said.

Provincial official Manit Thongsripong said work at the mine would not be suspended as there was no hard evidence that it was responsible for the water contamination.