Fighting air pollution is now on the national agenda, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday as the government was seen scrambling to deal with air pollution in the provinces.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said the amount of fine dust particles in the capital has come down to safe levels but the government will spare no effort in dealing with air pollution that has blanketed the sky in the northern and northeastern regions of the country.

The premier said he sought the cabinet’s approval to put this issue on the national agenda, which he said would “bring together various relevant agencies to tackle dust in a sustainable manner”.

Acceptable measures may need to be implemented step-by-step, he noted.

Gen Prayut said he ordered ministers to find ways to prevent farmers from continuing slash-and-burn agriculture, which creates PM2.5.

Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said the prime minister was updated about PM2.5 levels in the northern provinces of Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, Tak and Phrae.

All these provinces were instructed to deploy people to prevent bush fires and farm burning, he said, adding Gen Prayut also appealed to the public to refrain from burning rubbish and farming materials outdoors to minimise dust.

In Chiang Mai, the level of PM2.5 was at 80.57 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³), exceeding the safety limit of 50 µg/m³. The district was reportedly blanketed by thick smog on Tuesday morning. The haze was so thick the top of Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s landmark mountain was not visible. In Lampang, haze shrouded Muang district, making it impossible to see the top of Doi Prabat mountain.

The PM2.5 level in tambon Ban Dong of Mae Moh district was the highest in the province, at 134 µg/m³.

Firefighters and volunteers were deployed to help combat forest fires.