Bangkok: The Democrat Party is set to submit an urgent oral motion to address the PM2.5 air pollution problem tomorrow. Kardi revealed this initiative, highlighting the belief that the ongoing oil crisis is compelling farmers to resort to burning methods, exacerbating the pollution issue.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj, a Member of Parliament and leader of the Democrat Party, voiced her concerns over the PM2.5 air pollution crisis affecting northern Thailand. She emphasized the health risks posed to the population, particularly young children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Ms. Kardee urged the government to monitor this escalating crisis closely, as it could severely impact the economy, especially with the upcoming Songkran festival. She pointed out that the energy crisis has already led to a 50% reduction in hotel bookings in northern Thailand.

Ms. Kardee explained that while the dust pollution issue has persisted for decades, it has now reached a critical stage. Her analysis, using satellite imagery from GISTDA, revealed notable changes. Previously, most of the dust originated from neighboring countries, but current data indicates that most hotspots are now within Thailand, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions, with a significant increase. She attributes this to energy shortages, which have forced farmers to revert to burning methods.

The Democrat Party is advocating for a systematic solution rather than temporary fixes. Tomorrow, they will propose the establishment of a special committee to expedite the resolution of this issue and consider a long-term approach. The party plans to present four dimensions of the dust pollution problem-environment, agricultural management, health management, and the overall economy-as recommendations to the government in Parliament.