North pushes Mekong pollution plan

NETWORKS SUBMIT 10-POINT PROPOSAL TO PM

- POST REPORTERS

»Northern civil networks have called on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to solve the longstanding Mekong basin pollution, putting forward a 10-point action plan.

The networks from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai have submitted a letter to Mr Anutin, urging immediate action on transboundary pollution affecting the Kok, Sai, Ruak and Mekong Rivers.

The petition highlights concerns over illegal upstream mining in Myanmar and calls for a plan to monitor soil and rice crops across 100,000 rai of farmland potentially contaminated with heavy metals.

Rakdao Pritchard, coordinator of the network for river protection, said the letter was also addressed to Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Capt Thammanat Prompow and Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin, as well as Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.