Thai government ordered to rehabilitate lead-polluted creek, compensate affected villagers
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A Thai court has ordered a government agency to rehabilitate a lead-polluted creek and pay nearly $4 million in compensation to local villagers as part of a drawn-out legal battle.
More than 150 ethnic Karen villagers near the Klity Creek in western Kanchanaburi province have suffered from lead-contamination in water, soil and aquatic animals for more than 10 years. The toxic waste was released from a lead-treatment factory that was shut down in 1998.
The creek was villagers' only source of water.
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The Supreme Administrative Court ruled Thursday that the Pollution Control Department did not attempt to mitigate the damage in a timely manner.
It awarded each of the 22 plaintiffs about 177,000 baht ($5,800 US dollars) in compensation. It did not specify the time frame for the creek's rehabilitation.