Mae Sot Residents Urge Prime Minister to Address Waste Management Crisis.

Mae Sot: Mae Sot residents have taken decisive action, appealing directly to the Prime Minister to address the escalating crisis of overflowing garbage and wastewater in their community. The foul odor and health hazards emanating from the waste have alarmed locals, prompting urgent calls for a solution. According to Thai News Agency, the Songkhwae 1 community group, led by Mr. Somkuan Promma, and joined by 100 villagers from Mae Sot Municipality and Mae Pa Subdistrict Administrative Organization, submitted a formal petition to Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra. The petition, presented to Mr. Songkram Kitlertpairoj, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Mr. Sompas Nilphan, Advisor to the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, highlighted the severe impact of the waste problem in Mae Pa Subdistrict, Mae Sot District. Mr. Somkuan detailed that the waste site in Village No. 10, managed by Mae Sot Municipality for over three decades, receives no less than 150 tons of garbage daily from va rious districts, including Phop Phra, Mae Ramak, and Tha Song Yang. The accumulation, now exceeding 600,000 tons and towering like a two-story building, has led to a situation where the municipality will be unable to accommodate additional waste by 2025 due to the pervasive stench and polluted water affecting local residents. In an effort to mitigate the crisis, Mae Sot Municipality engaged Clean Planning Co., Ltd. to construct a small power plant using community waste as fuel to generate 6.0 megawatts of electricity. Although construction is nearly complete and the plant was expected to be operational by early 2025, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays. Furthermore, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) annulled the electricity purchase agreement with the Provincial Electricity Authority, despite pending appeals for an extension. Mr. Somkuan expressed concern that the failure to renew the electricity purchase contract could exacerbate the waste issues, ultimately impacting community welfare. He emphasized the need for government intervention to resolve the electricity supply agreement and address the waste management challenges. Following the submission of the petition, Mr. Songkram engaged with local villagers to better understand their grievances and ensure that their voices are heard by the Prime Minister.