People's Party MPs Parit and Supachot are jointly monitoring the fly ash contamination issue in Nan Province, urging the government to investigate and promptly pass clean air and PRTR laws to address the problem.
On 13 April 2026 in Thung Chang District, Nan Province, Mr. Parit Watcharasindhu, a party-list MP and spokesperson for the People's Party, along with Mr. Supachot Chaisat, party-list MP, Mr. Chaowich Innoi, Nan District 1 MP, and Mr. Charoen Apiphatkosol, Nan District 3 MP—all from the People's Party—surveyed the problem following a truck accident involving fly ash imported from the Hongsa power plant in Laos on 29 January 2026. The accident caused fly ash contamination in nearby areas. They also participated in Songkran Festival events and met with residents across several districts in Nan Province.
Mr. Parit stated that the incident has caused significant concern among local residents, many of whom learned for the first time about fly ash transport along this route. The community worries that the accident could impact public health through inhalation of polluted dust and contamination of water sources.
Although after the incident, the private company purchasing the fly ash conducted preliminary air and soil quality checks and reported that contaminant levels were within standard limits, local residents remain apprehensive. They have been gathering information to file complaints with relevant authorities, including with the People's Party today.
Mr. Parit added that the People's Party sees the following measures as necessary to provide immediate relief and reassurance to the public, as well as to find long-term solutions for managing health risks:
1) The Pollution Control Department and related agencies must conduct thorough inspections of air, soil, and water quality to determine the presence of pollutants or harmful contaminants. These assessments should be carried out by government bodies or independent inspectors, not relying solely on results from the private company that purchased the fly ash. The scope should be broad and deep, including tests on agricultural produce, aquatic animals, and health assessments of vulnerable groups potentially affected.
2) Relevant authorities should improve the curve at the accident site to reduce road accident risks, such as by adding warning signs or installing monitoring cameras. This section is steep and winding and frequently experiences accidents and traffic violations.
3) The Cabinet and Parliament should expedite the passage of the Clean Air Act and the Act on the Reporting and Disclosure of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) to ensure transparent and verifiable information on pollution production, release, and transfer within the country.
Mr. Parit noted that the People's Party had previously introduced these two bills to Parliament, and MPs from all parties had made some progress in the last session. Currently, the bills remain pending, awaiting a Cabinet resolution on whether to proceed with consideration. The deadline for action is 14 May 2026. The People's Party will fully utilize parliamentary mechanisms to protect the health of all citizens, including those in Nan Province, who are facing overlapping crises from PM 2.5 pollution and the recent fly ash contamination.
Besides investigating the fly ash issue, the People's Party MPs attended Songkran Festival activities with residents across various districts throughout Nan Province.
In Udon Thani Province, Mr. Weerayut Kanchuchat, party-list MP and Deputy Leader of the People's Party, together with Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, party-list MP, joined Songkran celebrations by paying respects to elders at Pasuk community, Mak Khaeng Subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani District. They then visited Wat Phothisomphon and the Udon Thani City Pillar Shrine to pray for the country's well-being, for the stability of Udon residents' lives, and for this year to be a year of hope for everyone.
