Thailand and Myanmar form joint task force to clean Kok River

Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, led by Secretary Rawiwan Phuridech, signed a Terms of Reference with Myanmar to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) addressing toxic substances in the trans‑border Kok River, which flows from Myanmar into Thailand’s Chiang Rai province.

The JWG will develop a three‑year water‑quality management plan, with annual operational plans, standardized sampling methods and a target of at least two joint meetings per year. The first meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on 7 August at the Government House.

The cooperation also includes a separate agreement with Myanmar’s Geo‑Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) to use satellite‑based remote‑sensing data for peaceful applications, aiming to monitor mining‑related pollution that has been affecting downstream communities.