The cabinet has approved three ministerial notifications about measures to protect the environment in the three Andaman coastal provinces of Phangnga, Krabi and Ranong.
Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Pol Gen Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, said on Wednesday two notifications from his ministry were approved during the meeting on Tuesday.
The notifications concern measures to protect the environment in the districts of Khura Buri, Takua Pa, Thai Muang, Thap Put, Takua Thung, Koh Yao and Muang in Phangnga and the districts of Ao Luk, Nua Khlong, Khlong Thom, Koh Lanta and Muang in Krabi.
"The measures will prohibit activities that are harmful to local ecosystems," Pol Gen Phatcharavat said.
"As part of that, they will require local factories to possess machinery and tools for controlling pollution and solving environmental problems," he said.
In addition, factories will be required to allow at least half of their land to be able to absorb water, with green space making up 50% of the areas where water can be absorbed. The building heights of factories within a 100-metre radius of historical sites will be limited as well, he said.
Pol Gen Phatcharavat said the cabinet meeting also approved another notification by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry regarding measures to protect marine and coastal resources in the area of the Mu Ko Phayam Islands in Ranong's Muang district.
The measures will prohibit people in the area from leaving litter, releasing wastewater, snorkelling and diving, feeding sea creatures, fishing, reclaiming land and dropping anchors into the sea.
