Kulwalee Urges Review of Wild Elephant and River Pollution Budgets

Thairath•Politics•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee criticized the 2070 budget cuts affecting wild elephant mitigation and water pollution monitoring.

•On September 10, 2026, Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee debated the 2070 Budget Act regarding the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
•Funding for wild elephant compensation was reduced from a requested 50 million baht to 10 million baht.
•Budget for wild elephant surveillance teams was cut by over 478 million baht.
•The Budget Bureau cut all funding for 11 automatic water quality monitoring stations and three new heavy metal detection tools for the Kok River.

Overview

•On September 10, 2026, Kulwalei Noppamonrabbadee participated in the second reading of the 2070 Budget Act.
•Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee stated that budget cuts should be carefully considered, especially those affecting public life, safety, health, and property.
•The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation received 10 million baht for citizen compensation from a requested 50 million baht.
•The budget for wild elephant surveillance and pushing teams was allocated at 298 million baht from a request of 776 million baht.
•Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee warned that failing to build new surveillance teams threatens the safety of local villagers as current staff age or leave the system.
•The Pollution Control Department has only 2 functioning heavy metal detection tools remaining out of 5 original machines, with 3 broken.
•The Budget Bureau cut all requested funding for 11 automatic water quality monitoring stations intended to monitor heavy metals in the Kok River.
•Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee urged the Budget Bureau to consider the impact on citizens when deciding which budget portions are unnecessary.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee

"Villagers are not demanding anything beyond necessity, but it is actual damage that has occurred, has been surveyed, and they are waiting for government remedy."

ชาวบ้านไม่ได้เรียกร้องสิ่งที่เกินความจำเป็น แต่เป็นความเสียหายที่เกิดขึ้นจริง มีการสำรวจแล้ว และเขากำลังรอการเยียวยาจากภาครัฐ

Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee

"If we do not create a new surveillance team, who will look after the safety of the villagers in the area?"

ถ้าเราไม่สร้างทีมเฝ้าระวังขึ้นมาใหม่ แล้วเราจะให้ใครดูแลความปลอดภัยของชาวบ้านในพื้นที่

Key Entities

Person

Kulwalee Noppamonrabbadee(กุลวลี นพอมรบดี)

Chairperson of the Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment of the House of Representatives.

Organization

Budget Bureau(สำนักงบประมาณ)

The government agency responsible for budget allocation and review.

House Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment(คณะกรรมาธิการการที่ดิน ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The parliamentary committee tasked with studying and monitoring wild elephant issues and environmental concerns.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry whose budget was reviewed and partially reduced by over 3,278 million baht.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)ℹ️

The agency requesting funds for citizen compensation and wild elephant surveillance teams.

Pollution Control Department(กรมควบคุมมลพิษ)ℹ️

The agency planning to establish automatic water quality stations and acquire heavy metal detection tools.

Law

Budget Act for the Fiscal Year 2070(พระราชบัญญัติงบประมาณรายจ่ายประจำปี 2570)

The proposed legislation for the 2070 annual expenditure budget.

Place

Kok River(แม่น้ำกก)ℹ️

A river where the Pollution Control Department planned to set up water quality monitoring stations due to heavy metal concerns.

Sai River(แม่น้ำสาย)

A river mentioned in the context of cross-border pollution issues.

Ruak River(แม่น้ำรวก)ℹ️

A river mentioned in the context of cross-border pollution issues.

Mekong River(แม่น้ำโขง)ℹ️

A river mentioned in the context of cross-border pollution issues.