Today (20 July 2020), 10.00 AM. at Room 301 meeting room at the Government House, Banchakarn 1 Building, H.E. General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister, was a chairman of the meeting of National Environmental Board No. 4/2020 through VDO Conference. H.E. Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of National Resources and Environment also joined the meeting.

The meeting approved the Environmental Impact Assessment projects as follows: FSRU gas pipeline project to the South Bangkok Power Plant, Twin Railroad Construction Project Chira – Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima Ring Road Project, Trang Airport Extension Improvement Project, and a rental building project for low-income civil servants in Sakon Nakhon Province.

Moreover, the meeting also resolved the Action Plan for the Natural Environment and National Art term of 20 years (2018 – 2037), a guideline for environmental community to promote and conserve environmental quality year 2020 – 2037. The broad also approved the (draft) Ministerial Regulation that designated area of Wat Ket, Nong Hoi Subdistrict,  Mueang Chiang Mai District, Nong Phueng Subdistrict, Yang Neng Subdistrict, Saratee Subdistrict, Saratee District, Chiang Mai, and Umong Subdistrict, Mueang Lamphun District, Lamphun Province to be the Environmental Protection Areas B.E. ….. This (draft) Ministerial Regulation will be presented to the Cabinet for the future consideration.

In addition, the meeting also reviewed the enforcement of new vehicle emission standards to comply with Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards to support the use of green energy to reduce air pollution in Thailand, especially tiny dust PM 2.5. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment urged to all related agencies including Department of Land Transport and the polices to be strictly in detecting black smoke cars. The chairman of the meeting also concerns about the pollutants that may contaminate with water resources from the activity of accelerating the drilling of underground water wells to store water which have more depth in the past. Therefore, the chairman ordered the relevant agencies to increase caution in this activity for people to use safe water and agricultural consumption.