Mud removers warned over price-gouging in flood-hit Thai provinces

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 29 Sep 2024 at 14: 54

A backhoe loads mud onto a truck in Mae Sai district of Thailand's Chiang Rai province on Sept 22. (Photo: Public Relations Department)
On September 22, a bulldozer loads dirt onto a truck in the Mae Sai region of Thailand’s Chiang Rai state. ( Photo: Public Relations Department )

Pichai Naripthaphan, the minister of commerce, has given Thai officials instructions to file legal actions against shovel operators in flood-hit provinces for raising dirt removal costs.

Following his surveillance of the condition and accelerating restoration work, Mr. Pichai issued the order after he visited affected locations in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces on Saturday and Sunday. He was contacted about how some shovel users had charged higher rates to clear dirt from their houses. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Pichai, the DIT and municipal corporate offices would work with the government to ensure that all businesses maintain reasonable prices and disclose the costs associated with their services to the general public. Those found to have overcharged customers could face a maximum sentence of seven years and/or a maximum fine of 140, 000 baht, while those found to have overcharged customers could face a maximum fine of up to$ 10,000. Additionally, authorities would keep an eye on other companies and vendors.

” To assist flood-affected citizens, the government asks for assistance from shovel users to keep the clay clearing fees unchanged.” Do not worsen their sufferings”, the trading minister said.

Consumers can record unfair techniques or overpriced products to the DIT’s 1569 line or municipal business offices, according to Mr. Pichai. &nbsp,

The government gave 2, 000 washing kits, including blankets and mattresses, to residents of Chiang Mai on Sunday to assist them in cleaning their homes after the water ran out. It intends to distribute Thong Fah portable units to remote locations to lower the cost of living for people and sell inexpensive consumer goods under the Thong Fah system in flood-hit towns where the liquid has receded.