CHIANG MAI – A group of residents who previously took the Thai government to the Administrative Court over air pollution has returned to Chiang Mai Provincial Hall, calling for faster action on PM2.5 and smoke haze controls in the North.
They say the state has already announced pollution control zones, as ordered by the court, but the public still hasn’t seen a clear action plan or the budget needed to make it work.
The group also warned that if air pollution in Chiang Mai stays above the legal standard for more than seven straight days, they are ready to pursue legal action under Section 157 against relevant agencies for failing to carry out their duties.
Petition submitted to the Prime Minister
On 26 January 2026, Phum Wachara Charoenphlitphon, a resident of San Pa Tong district in Chiang Mai, travelled to Chiang Mai Provincial Hall with representatives from the Northern Breath Council network. They submitted a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, who also chairs the National Environment Board.
Their request was straightforward: follow the Supreme Administrative Court ruling in full, not only in name. While pollution control zones have been declared, they say there is still no detailed operational plan, no clear measures people can point to, and no confirmed funding to support the work.
The letter was received by Siwakorn Buapong, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, who said it would be forwarded through the proper channels.
Phum said he began legal action in 2021, arguing that the National Environment Board failed to deal properly with PM2.5 in northern Thailand. In 2025, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the government must declare pollution control zones across four provinces: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son.
The ruling covers the period from February to May each year, when haze and fine dust levels often rise.
Phum said that despite the announcement, there still isn’t a practical plan that people can see, or a budget that matches the scale of the problem. He added that he has repeatedly asked agencies for clear details, but says he has not received answers.
Residents say most people still don’t know what the pollution zone means
Phum also claimed many residents are not aware that pollution control zones have been declared in the four provinces. He said most people only hear the same message every year: no burning.
In his view, burn bans alone have been repeated for years and have already shown they are not enough to solve the PM2.5 and haze crisis.
The group says it is giving authorities time to act, but will watch the situation closely as the haze season approaches. Phum said that if PM2.5 levels, or air pollution levels more broadly, exceed the standard in Chiang Mai for more than seven consecutive days, they will file complaints under Section 157 against all relevant agencies for neglecting their duties.
Deputy Governor Siwakorn said the province has drafted a five-year strategic plan linked to the pollution control zone announcement and has already submitted it to central authorities for consideration. He said it is still under review.
He added that while waiting for a decision, Chiang Mai will continue working across all areas to reduce the impact of haze and protect public health. The province has set a target to cut the number of fire hotspots and the number of days with dust levels above the standard by 20 per cent.
