Bangkok: Prime Minister Yingluck has convened an urgent meeting to address the ongoing PM 2.5 dust problem, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of progress despite two weeks of directives from the Cabinet.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, led the meeting aimed at resolving the PM 2.5 dust issue. The meeting saw the participation of key officials including Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce; Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health; Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; and other high-ranking officials from various departments.
Ms. Paethongtarn emphasized the urgency of the meeting due to her impending international travel commitments. She noted that the dust levels have escalated significantly since the start of the week, with critical areas highlighted in orange, red, and purple on the pollution map. She reiterated the instructions she had given in the previous Cabinet meeting and underscored the importance of assessing the progress made so far.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ms. Paethongtarn pointed out the severe impact on vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. She mentioned that the dust index in Bangkok had recently surged to 153, indicating potentially higher levels on some days.
Ms. Paethongtarn urged the ministries involved to report their actions and strategies for further improvement, acknowledging that the current efforts are unsatisfactory. She called for a collaborative approach to present immediate and future measures to combat the dust crisis effectively.