Chiang Rai Residents Demand Action Over River Pollution

CHIANG RAI – Northern Thailand is facing a growing environmental crisis, and local communities are stepping up to demand clear answers. An active environmental network in the region is calling on Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin to take immediate action against severe water pollution in the Kok River.

The core issue revolves around toxic heavy metals that are believed to be washing down from mining operations in Shan State, Myanmar, and flowing directly into the rivers of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. According to a recent report from MGR Online, this situation has sparked serious concerns about public health and the safety of the local food supply.

Dr. Suebsakul Kidnukorn, a respected academic from Mae Fah Luang University and a representative for the local river protection network, released a formal statement outlining the group’s concerns. He stressed that government agencies must change their approach. The goal is simple: protect the people and the environment from dangerous chemicals.

The Dispute Over Relocated Testing Checkpoints

The biggest point of conflict right now is the location of a critical water testing checkpoint. Previously, officials tested the water and mud right at the border in Ban Kaeng Tum, an area known as checkpoint KK01. This location was vital because it provided clear proof that the toxic metals were entering Thailand from mines located in Myanmar.

However, in November 2025, the Pollution Control Department quietly moved this testing point. They shifted it to the Tha Ton Bridge in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district, which is about 15 to 20 kilometers deep inside Thai territory.

Officials claimed the border spot was too difficult to reach. Local advocates reject this excuse entirely, pointing out that military personnel in the area are fully prepared to help environmental workers reach the border safely. By testing the water so far inland, experts worry that it will become much harder to hold the polluters across the border accountable.

Five Clear Demands from the Chiang Rai Community

To fix this growing problem, the environmental network has laid out five specific demands for the Environment Minister. These requests focus on practical steps to ensure clean water for everyone:

Move the testing point back: The Pollution Control Department must return to the original Ban Kaeng Tum border checkpoint to accurately trace the source of the toxic metals.
Test the Mekong River: Officials need to set up new testing points along the Mekong River in the Chiang Khong and Wiang Kaen districts to get a complete picture of the pollution along the Thai-Laos border.
Keep groundwater promises: The Department of Groundwater Resources must urgently dig wells for 11 villages in the Mae Ai district. The Minister promised these wells in October 2025, but no progress has been made yet.
Find safe farming water: The government needs to locate clean water sources for at least 130,000 rai (about 51,000 acres) of farmland in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Rethink the budget: The community is asking the government to cancel a 40-million-baht study on a local grass swamp. Instead, they want that money spent directly on providing clean drinking and farming water for the locals.

Protecting Local Food Supplies

The impact of this pollution goes far beyond just drinking water. It is a massive threat to the local farming industry. Currently, farmers are forced to use water from the Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong rivers—all of which are at high risk of chemical contamination.

This water is used to grow everyday crops like rice, garlic, corn, green beans, okra, and potatoes. Since these crops are sold in local Thai markets and shipped around the world, the contamination issue is a widespread food safety concern. Local leaders are urging the government to prioritize safe irrigation so farmers do not have to rely on poisoned rivers.

Political Tension Over the Issue

The pressure on the Environment Minister is clearly building, and it recently boiled over into public view. Minister Suchart was involved in a heated exchange with a news reporter who asked him tough questions about the Pollution Control Department’s testing methods.

The Minister reportedly lost his temper, walked into the group of journalists, and aggressively bumped shoulders with a reporter while making an angry remark. While he later visited the press room at Government House to apologize to senior journalists, the incident highlights just how sensitive and high-stakes this environmental issue has become.

Ultimately, the communities of northern Thailand are not asking for much. They simply want clean water, safe food, and a government that keeps its promises. By moving the testing points back to the border and securing new water sources, the government can take a huge step toward protecting its people from cross-border pollution.