PUBLISHED : 19 Jan 2024 at 14:36
A court in Chiang Mai issued a directive on Friday instructing the government to formulate an immediate plan to combat air pollution within the next 90 days, as the country prepares for its annual surge in harmful haze, according to news agency AFP.
During the initial months of the year, Thailand experiences a decline in air quality due to a combination of agricultural burning, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust.
Last year, both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, in the north, repeatedly ranked among the most polluted cities globally, prompting concerned citizens to file a legal case compelling government action. The Chiang Mai administrative court, in its ruling on Friday, mandated the National Environmental Commission to propose “preventive methods to solve pollution both short and long term” within the stipulated 90-day period.
The court concluded that the previous government, led by junta leader-turned-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, faced accusations of “neglecting his duty” by not responding swiftly enough to address the pollution issue, AFP reported. The ruling stated, “After consideration, the defendants neglected their duties and acted too slowly.”
The current administration under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which assumed office in August, has pledged to make addressing air pollution a “national agenda”. A proposed Clean Air Act, endorsed by Mr Srettha’s cabinet with the aim of tackling the problem, successfully passed its initial reading in parliament on Wednesday.
As of early Friday morning, Bangkok ranked 10th on the global list of cities with the poorest air quality, according to data from air pollution monitoring firm IQAir.