The People's Party warns governors to beware of Section 157 violations for sweeping problems under the rug, causing toxic dust crises in 9 northern provinces, and demands urgent disaster declarations in the area.
On 30 March 2026, Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, together with Mr. Phattharaphong Leelaphat, Chiang Mai MP, held an urgent press conference calling on the government and governors of 9 northern provinces to promptly declare PM2.5 disaster zones amid the severe crisis, with dust levels soaring above 1,000 micrograms, far exceeding safe standards and threatening lives.
Mr. Natthapong stated that according to standards, if PM2.5 levels exceed 125 micrograms continuously for 5 days, a province can declare a disaster zone. Currently, at least 9 northern provinces meet this criterion: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, and Tak.
The People's Party leader emphasized that the authority to declare disaster zones lies directly with the provincial governors, enabling them to mobilize budgets and manpower to help alleviate the situation that local authorities cannot handle alone. Ignoring this is tantamount to sweeping problems under the rug and neglecting the lives of citizens.
Mr. Phattharaphong proposed a proactive management step: once a governor declares a disaster zone, they must promptly notify the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to escalate the situation from Level 2 (province-managed) to "Level 3 Disaster." This would require Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Minister of the Interior, to chair the incident command and direct all ministries to implement the national disaster prevention and mitigation plan immediately.
The People's Party also urged the government to allocate budgets and protective equipment to vulnerable groups, such as N95 masks and fully functional 24-hour dust-free rooms. They concluded with a warning to the governors of the 9 provinces that avoiding declaring disaster zones despite meeting the criteria constitutes neglect of duty under Section 157. They urged officials to prioritize citizens' lives over their own positions.