Bangkok: The government has issued a stern warning against illegal burning in forest areas, agricultural land, and open spaces, emphasizing severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, with a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of 2 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Airin Phanrit, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government has instructed all agencies to closely monitor the haze and dust pollution situation. She also emphasized the strict enforcement of legal measures to control open burning and designated burning zones. Ms. Airin reiterated that farmers who illegally burn in forest areas, agricultural land, and open areas are subject to fines, imprisonment, or both.
Burning in one's own area or in public areas that causes a nuisance, such as burning garbage or other items in the open, is an offense under the Public Health Act B.E. 2535 (1992). This offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 months, a fine of up to 25,000 baht, or both. Furthermore, burning in roadside areas or along roads, within 500 meters of a roadway, resulting in smoke or other substances that may endanger traffic safety, is an offense under the Road Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and is punishable by a fine not exceeding 1,000 baht.
Additionally, burning in agricultural areas, such as burning sugarcane fields, rice stubble, or open burning that is likely to endanger others and their property, constitutes an offense under Section 220 of the Criminal Code. This is punishable by imprisonment for up to 7 years and a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both. Setting fire to forests in national parks or wildlife sanctuaries is punishable by imprisonment for 4-20 years, a fine of 400,000-2,000,000 baht, or both.
Moreover, setting fire to forests in national forest reserves is punishable by imprisonment from 1 to 10 years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 baht. If an individual burns an area exceeding 25 rai (approximately 9.4 acres), the penalty is imprisonment from 4 to 20 years and a fine of 200,000 to 2,000,000 baht.
The government is urging cooperation from the public and farmers to refrain from burning to reduce the impact of PM2.5 dust pollution, which affects both the economy and society. Importantly, it impacts health in both the short and long term, negatively affecting multiple health systems. The public is encouraged to report forest fires, garbage burning, or open burning immediately to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation hotline 1784, the Department of National Parks hotline 1362, the Damrongtham Center 1567, or the police 1599, available 24 hours a day, to help reduce PM2.5 and prevent illegal burning that affects health.