Suchart Hits Back at Opposition over Water Toxic Crisis
Natural Resources Minister Suchart Chomklin defended his ministry in parliament on Oct 29, 2026, stating they were the first to inspect pollution and take legal action against factories.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Move Forward Party MP Patarapong Leelaphat questioned the government over toxic river contamination and electronic waste.
- Natural Resources Minister Suchart Chomklin stated his ministry was the first agency to inspect the site immediately.
- The government has pursued legal action against industrial plants responsible for rainbow-colored wastewater.
- Suchart criticized the opposition MP during the parliamentary session regarding their approach.
On October 29, 2026, at 10:40 AM, a session of the House of Representatives took place at the Sappaya-Sapasathan Thai Parliament Bangkok, presided over by House Speaker Sophon Sarum, featuring a live interpellation on environmental crises.
Patarapong Leelaphat, a Chiang Mai MP from the People's Party, questioned Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin regarding toxic contamination in the Kok and Sai rivers caused by mining operations in a neighboring country. He noted that arsenic and lead levels exceeded safety standards, questioning why the government hesitated to tackle the root cause by signing an MOU with Myanmar, allowing the pollution to spread to the Mekong River in Thailand's northeastern region.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Furthermore, the opposition MP raised concerns over electronic waste resulting from flooding in eastern Thailand, where citizens received alerts about arsenic and lead hazards from civic groups. He criticized Suchart, appointed as the lead coordinator for eastern flood relief, for failing to manage environmental restoration or hold industrial factories accountable, while also pointing out that Suchart had skipped all three meetings of the National Environment Board held this year.
"Do not use stubbornness for political entertainment."
Suchart Chomklin
In response, Minister Suchart strongly defended his record, asserting that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was the very first agency to deploy personnel to inspect the site immediately. He highlighted legal actions taken against industrial plants causing rainbow-colored wastewater and hit back at the opposition MP during the parliamentary debate.
The clash between government officials and opposition lawmakers over cross-border environmental hazards and post-flood electronic waste highlights the complex challenges of transboundary diplomacy and domestic environmental enforcement. Such parliamentary debates underscore the intense political pressure surrounding public health and regulatory accountability in Thailand.
Source: Khaosod Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment