Intensive Training for Environmental Protection Unit (EPU)
Mr. Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) revealed that PCD organized the EPU Training Programme: “Environmental Protector” (Class 1) to enhance legal capacity of EPU’s staffs to move towards to environmentally friendly societies during 16-19 December 2020 (B.E. 2563) at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, Nakhon Pathom Province. This training aimed to build preparedness of EPU’s staffs both in central and regional units to gain knowledge and understanding about role, duties, authority on the operation as pollution control officers as well as ability in operating of local tasks in promptly response with complaint problems which might affect quality of life and environmental quality.
Mr. Athapol said that the training substances included (1) Activities for enhancing royalty to the monarchy and patriotism (2) Important environmental pollution policies “MONRE Drive Pollution-Free Thailand” by H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (3) Environmental law enforcement and the proceeding of environmental prosecution both in prosecutor and inquiry officer classes, evidence collection for environmental prosecution, inspection and enforcement of pollution sources and use of administrative power (4) Practice on inspection method, witness object collection for environmental impact assessment and first aid training for injured persons from environmental emergency cases. The honor lecturers of this training were from various organizations taking part in both lecture and practical parts. The 120 trainees included PCD executives and stuffs, police officers from Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, the Royal Thai Police, and soldiers from Operations Coordination Center 4, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).
Pollution problems have affected environmental quality and quality of life of people in all areas. Environmental protection operation both in central and regional levels have to be done strongly, promptly, and accurately in order to protect environmental quality, minimize effect to people to least level, and can support people finally, Mr. Athapol said.
