CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Chiang Mai on Tuesday to inspect wildfire response units and boost morale among frontline personnel as the government ramps up its battle against hazardous PM2.5 levels.
Accompanied by key cabinet members, the Prime Minister reviewed aerial firefighting operations at the 7th Infantry Division airbase and inspected mobile air quality monitoring units. The visit comes as Northern Thailand continues to grapple with seasonal smog that has severely impacted public health.
“Governors must act as single commanders to integrate all relief efforts,” Anutin told reporters, announcing the formation of a dedicated northern disaster prevention committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri.
Addressing the cause of the fires, the Prime Minister noted that authorities have already initiated approximately 1,200 legal cases against individuals for illegal burning and forest encroachment. He warned that courts are increasingly handing down prison sentences without suspension for such offenses.
To further curb the pollution, the government is considering a total ban on entering protected forest areas during this high-risk period. Anutin also took a firm stance on “transboundary haze,” stating that Thailand would refuse to purchase agricultural products from neighboring countries if their production involves crop burning.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to long-term legislative solutions, backing the swift progression of the Clean Air Act. (TNA)
