The Chiang Mai Administrative Court ruled against the prime minister and the National Environmental Board today (Monday), for neglecting their duty to deal with the annual dense smog in Chiang Mai.

Both defendants were found to have ignored their duties as stipulated in the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 (1992).

The Court also ruled that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ignored his duties or delayed performing his duties in preventing PM2.5 air pollution in Chiang Mai, as stipulated in the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, B.E 2550 (2007).

The air pollution caused by PM2.5 dust has eased since May,but the problem returns from December to May every year and has a tendency to worsen each year.

It has an extreme impact on the public’s health and the environment, so the court ruled that, as it is evident that the problems will reoccur, and as a precautionary and preventive principle, there is sufficient reason to order both defendants to issue quick and effective measures to be used in preventing, mitigating and solving the problem.