BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Krissada Boonyarat has disclosed that the Interior Ministry has instructed all Northern and Northeastern provinces to accelerate forest fires and haze mitigation efforts, since the situation is getting critical especially in the provinces of Lampang, Chiang Mai and Lamphun.

The PM10 value recorded in the three critical provinces has been recorded at levels exceeding 120 micrograms per cubic meter, affecting the public’s health and visibility.

To prepare and prevent forest fire and haze in the most vulnerable provinces, the local chief district officers have been instructed to prevent and contain forest fires and haze in a proactive and ”civil state” manner, integrating public efforts in both the community and agricultural areas to stop the unnecessarily burning of forests or agricultural materials.