Watcharapol Tackles Pathum Thani Canal Pollution, Recovery Expected

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Watcharapol Khawkam, who is also a Member of Parliament for Udon Thani under the Pheu Thai Party, has stepped in to address the severe water pollution crisis and massive fish mortality observed in Khlong Raphiphat 2, located in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province, assuring the public that the ministry is treating the issue with utmost urgency.

Initial assessments indicate that the contamination stems primarily from agricultural runoff flowing from flooded fields into the canal system. This issue has been exacerbated by high water levels in the Chao Phraya River, which have slowed down drainage and caused stagnant wastewater to accumulate. Official water quality test results are still pending to conclusively verify the exact cause of the widespread fish deaths.

To mitigate the impact and resolve residents' grievances, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has instructed three relevant departments to implement a dual-track recovery strategy:

• Water Management: Injecting high-quality water to dilute pollutants while carefully regulating discharge rates to match downstream capacity.
• Water Quality Restoration: Enhancing water circulation, oxygenating low-oxygen zones, applying microbial products recommended by academic agencies, and continuously monitoring water parameters.

As part of these active measures, the Royal Irrigation Department has supplied approximately 500,000 cubic meters of clean water per day into the canal while strictly monitoring water levels at downstream control points to ensure they do not exceed +1.80 meters above mean sea level (MSL), preventing any overflow impact on local residential communities. Authorities expect the situation to improve within 1 to 2 days, with complete drainage targeted for mid-November.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Source: Khaosod Politics