Bangkok moves to address air pollution, creates green zone in Pathumwan

[webfact]

Bangkok moves to address air pollution, creates green zone in Pathumwan

 

 

BANGKOK, 17 January 2018 (NNT) - Bangkok’s Pathumwan district will designate a “clean air zone”, as part of an undertaking by the city’s Pollution Control Department and the Thai Environment Institute. 

The Bangkok Pollution Control Department, Thai Environment Institute, and the German government’s GIZ organized a seminar on creating a clean air zone in downtown Bangkok. The seminar was intended to foster green lifestyle choices among city dwellers to reduce air pollution and eliminate various sources of pollution. 

Suwanna Jungrungruang, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, revealed that the clean air initiative will kick off in Pathumwan district, to counteract its traffic congestion. 

A total of 270,000 Bangkok residents suffer from respiratory illnesses, prompting the city to create green zones and step up street cleaning operations. Authorities have enlisted the aid of volunteers in a cooperative approach to solving the issue. 

Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department Suwanna Tiansuwan said that over the last 10 years, continuous efforts have been made to address the issue of air pollution in the nation’s capital, resulting in gradual improvements. The department is concentrating its efforts in areas of traffic congestion and construction, as well as sources of pollution such as poorly-maintained public transportation vehicles.

 

-- nnt 2018-01-17

[peperobi]

Ha...ha...ha...I really like to see how.....

[webfact]

Bangkok choked with air pollution: deputy governor

By The Nation

 

Bangkok's busy business areas are being choked with air pollution, with concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) much higher than safe standards, Bangkok officials warned on Thursday.

 

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy governor Suwanna Jungrungruang raised the warning during an academic seminar on establishing clean air zones in inner Bangkok.

 

Suwanna told the seminar that the BMA had measured the air quality at 23 locations in the capital last year and found that toxic PM2.5 was present in concentrations much higher than safe standards of 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

 

For example, in Bang Khen and Thon Buri, PM2.5 was present in concentrations of 116 mg/m.

 

Suwanna said vehicles were the main cause of the increasing air pollution.

 

She added that construction on roads also contributed to the worsening air quality.

 

Since air pollution has serious impacts on the health of Bangkok residents, the BMA plans to launch clean air zones with a pilot project in Pathumwan district.

 

As part of the project, the BMA will clean roads more frequently and plant more trees while creating a network including volunteers and private companies to monitor air quality in the city, Suwanna said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30336543

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-18

 

[anon537687643]

They have completely no idea how to deal with traffic pollution! The shop has sailed! And the fact is they don’t give a damn about the health problems ! Bangkok is a choked up Mess! Standstill traffic pumping out the oil waste and it’s actually only going to get worse !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

 

[Wiggy]

They could start by reducing the number of useless songtaews stopped/parked on main roads and blocking traffic (causing even more pollution) and with filthy diesel engines running whilst waiting for customers. Sure, they provide a service, but there are way, way too many of them.

 

 

[Get Real]

This is funny. I guess it was like about 4-6 month ago, they puplished a story that showed graphic of tested results. There Bangkok was in perfect condition. Now it´s not. It´s so nice when they think they can fool people, due to that they think its forgotten. Unfortunately this why of believing ain´t only regarding the air quality.

[mok199]

the ''thumbs up'', dog and pony photo op,followed by the all you can eat buffet..

Edited January 18, 2018 by mok199
speliing

[shady86]

Another round of talking and no actions. 

[samsensam]

 

they were planning to get rid of the red buses back in 2000...

 

they did attempt to replace some of the buses in bangkok but the corrupt fingers in the pie came above everything else  and 200(?) odd brand new buses are festering in some bonded import compound.

[kotsak]

Another F*U*B*A*R issue with no solution in sight. Even if there was a solution, most likely it would get crushed under the wheels of corruption and self interests.

 

[spidermike007]

This is a humorous article. Bangkok has perhaps the least amount of land devoted to public park space, of any major capital in the world. More than likely, it is all about greed. And the city's unwillingness to invest in public space. Granted, the land prices in Bangkok are astronomical. But, a city has to take care of it's own. The public transportation in Bangkok is supreme. Some of the best. But, we all need more parks. 

 

Also, they could mandate, that trucks and buses are not allowed within city limits, unless they are equipped with natural gas. That would make a huge difference. Thailand has already made alot of progress with the conversion to CNG, and alternatives. Keep up the pressure. 

[Searat7]

I live near Lumpini Park and am able to take off my face mask there because the air seems reasonably clean whereas the surrounding areas have filthy air. There are still a large number of old buses spewing black diesel smoke, tons of motorbikes and far too many vehicles in general. 

[Mickmouse1]

Huh???? Who said?

How did he find out and when??

[RichardColeman]

On 17/1/2561 at 3:53 PM, webfact said:

A total of 270,000 Bangkok residents suffer from respiratory illnesses

i wonder what % of that is actually brought on by chain smoking on cheap ciggies !

[unblocktheplanet]

It's been well-established that Bangkok has plenty of clean air...in shopping malls. More, please!

[Maestro]

Removed a troll post.

[Thian]

On 1/18/2018 at 10:35 AM, Wiggy said:

They could start by reducing the number of useless songtaews stopped/parked on main roads and blocking traffic (causing even more pollution) and with filthy diesel engines running whilst waiting for customers. Sure, they provide a service, but there are way, way too many of them.

 

 

They should get banned, also the minivans..instead BKK needs new clean buses...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 1/18/2018 at 9:17 AM, webfact said:

As part of the project, the BMA will clean roads more frequently and plant more trees while creating a network including volunteers and private companies to monitor air quality in the city, Suwanna said.

 

And amidst this, the BMA will do nothing to stop the coming demolition of Chuvit Garden on Sukhumvit Road, the cutting down of all its trees and other green space, and replacing it all with yet another "badly needed" hotel project... courtesy of Khun Chuwit, self-styled friend of the people.

 

[anon537687643]

 
And amidst this, the BMA will do nothing to stop the coming demolition of Chuvit Garden on Sukhumvit Road, the cutting down of all its trees and other green space, and replacing it all with yet another "badly needed" hotel project... courtesy of Khun Chuwit, self-styled friend of the people.
 

Failed City! But I guess the City judges success by price and number of condos and success of shopping malls


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[USPatriot]

Ill bet it is going to take alot of money to fix, i wonder what next years asset reports will look like.

[JimShorts]

On 1/18/2018 at 10:35 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

It's been well-established that Bangkok has plenty of clean air...in shopping malls. More, please!

Not true, air conditioning does very little to reduce PM2.5. Only (expensive) air purifiers with HEPA filters will reduce PM2.5. 

 

In fact being inside when air quality outside is bad does not make much of difference, it can even be worse inside:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/22/indoor-air-can-be-deadlier-than-outdoor-air-research-shows.html

 

http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/blog/just-because-you-dont-see-it-doesnt-mean-it-w/blog/59898/

 

Not to mention being in a car, trapped in traffic, is much worse then walking down the sidewalk (which is also very bad on a busy street). 

Edited January 22, 2018 by JimShorts

[JimShorts]

So in summery the plan consists of three things...

1. Sweeping the streets more will not reduce air pollution (it may make it a little worse by stirring up the dust).

2. Planting trees is great, but you would have to plant a forest to start to reduce the pollution levels in Bangkok.

3. Better monitoring of the air quality is good, hopefully this will lead to future projects with more drastic plans to reduce air pollution. 

Edited January 22, 2018 by JimShorts