51 Day Burning Ban From March 1st Announced to Combat Growing Smoke Problem

by CityNews

 

 

CityNews – This year’s no-burning period has been set at 51 days between March 1st and April 20th this year to combat the amount of smog created by agricultural burning that occurs this time every year.

 

According to the government’s latest reports, the PM10 AQI in Chiang Mai measurements read between 35 and 103 micro-grams per cubic metre, below the government’s maximum safe level of 120. Many local air quality readers also measure PM2.5 levels that have produced results of up to 170 on the AQI index.

 

In an attempt to reduce the amount of smoke and smog pollution in Chiang Mai, the local government have announced a 51 day no-burning period where burning in an open air space will be illegal.

 

Last year, Chiang Mai Governor Prawin Chamniprasart led a 60-day blanket ban on all burning from February 20 to April 20. This year the ban will be dealt with independently by each district chief officer and is nine days shorter than 2017.

 

Full Story: http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/51-day-burning-ban-march-1st-announced-combat-growing-smoke-problem/

 

-- © Copyright Chiang City News 2018-2-7

The next 21 days are going to be hell if that is all the time left to burn everything that needs to be burnt.

Right.  If past history is any indication, the ban will not be enforced. 

yes, and i heard not wearing a helmet is illegal also.

The PM 2.5 levels have been way above 100 for a few days now ☹️

 

They announce a ban weeks in advance , so the burning is now spread over 3 months instead of 1. I feel very sorry for the majority of people who do not have air purifiers in their homes. 

 

My daughters school ( international ) has already got their air purifiers out of storage and put them in the classrooms  and don’t allow the children to play outside when the air quality is so poor.   

 

I hope the local schools also do this, but probably not ☹️

 

Very sad that the people in charge don’t seem to care about the long term health implications. It’s the one thing that may cause us to leave here one day ?

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 20188 yr by captainsteve

The bung for burning just went up.

Chiang Rai has lengthened the ban this year to 67 days. Why would Chiang Mai shorten it?

People up here are in a dash to get the burning done this week.

Edited February 7, 20188 yr by canuckamuck

Around where I live last years ban was very effective, almost everyone abided by it and I was surprised - baby steps and we'll get there.

Should be banned all year round  !

2 minutes ago, terminatorchiangmai said:

Should be banned all year round  !

Yes, and all the rural farmers should be made to buy mulching equipment and tractors to plough under their farmland, that land that is too steep to plough can be done by helicopter ploughs. And smoke that's blown in from across the border, we could build a Trump style wall perhaps, just to keep it out!

13 hours ago, heybruce said:

Right.  If past history is any indication, the ban will not be enforced. 

But GAWD HELP YOU if you are throwing darts in a bar - BiB are ON to you!

SURE, that will stop the problem...

You would have to be out of your cotton picking mind to visit this country, Malaysia, Indonesia during the burning season. 

Malaysia and Indonesia are a health hazard worse than I have ever experienced in my life.

Edited February 8, 20188 yr by garyk

Must be extended to all the year and nationwide...

Day 52 might be a problem.

So what do you suggest the farmers do, how do hill farmers and subsistence farmers clear the ground to plant the next crop?

 

And:

 

if Thailand cracked the burning problem and farmers stopped burning, what are we going to do when we find out that has hardly changed the air quality since much of the pollution is blown in across the border?

I could barely see across the rice fields this morning north of Chiang Rai. Now we are off for a 90 day report to Maesai , could even be worse there.

Ban burning altogether. 

Get universities to research alternatives for farmers. 

Supply subsidies for small villages without rubbish collection

 

I believe I have heard this before,every year same story,

there have been threats of imprisonment for smoking

a cig on Thai beaches,here burn the forests ,fields,affect

so many people's lives,have yet to hear anyone been brought

to book for burning.

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, simoh1490 said:

So what do you suggest the farmers do, how do hill farmers and subsistence farmers clear the ground to plant the next crop?

 

And:

 

if Thailand cracked the burning problem and farmers stopped burning, what are we going to do when we find out that has hardly changed the air quality since much of the pollution is blown in across the border?

Go back to growing poppies, more profit, less smoke at the source.

It amazing how bad it had become and the lack of understand that the very reason many put food on the table is because the foreigners come here to enjoy the clean air and beaches. Irony rules again here.

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In an attempt to reduce the amount of smoke and smog pollution in Chiang Mai, the local government have announced a 51 day no-burning period where burning in an open air space will be illegal.

Yeah, yeah. Will it have an impact? Will it hell? Will they enforce it? Will they hell? Meanwhile, the farmers have got another three weeks to burn hay while the pollution shines.

Anyone can make a law. But who will enforce,,,,,?? like most laws  here

The farmers do not have money

5 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Yes, and all the rural farmers should be made to buy mulching equipment and tractors to plough under their farmland, that land that is too steep to plough can be done by helicopter ploughs. And smoke that's blown in from across the border, we could build a Trump style wall perhaps, just to keep it out!

Im farming! 50rai. Bananas, figs, pappaya, guava, olives, pumpkins, watermelons and mangoes. Dont need to burn anything at all. Its laziness. Pure and simple. I rotor and plow fields by hand with a tiller that cost the same as paying someone else to plow the fields once per year. Leftovers are left to naturally breakdown and used as mulch and go back to the soil. I have a mulcher cheap chinese. It died within minutes of operation but actually never needed it.

Theres no excuse at all for burning. Infact our neighbours stopped burning there sugar cane fields and they were ready 2months earlier than everyone elses in the area this year and they used less water due to leaving the leftovers atop the field keeping the ground moist year round. Burning depletes nutrients over time and does nothing good. Its a myth used for lazy people as an excuse. People need to realize change isn't difficult and if it is get another job!

4 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

So what do you suggest the farmers do, how do hill farmers and subsistence farmers clear the ground to plant the next crop?

 

And:

 

if Thailand cracked the burning problem and farmers stopped burning, what are we going to do when we find out that has hardly changed the air quality since much of the pollution is blown in across the border?

Ok, you want to give all farmers a pass on burning because some of them are poor and farm difficult land.

 

How about burning of forests and piles of trash?  Are you willing to ban that?

33 minutes ago, bsdthai said:

Im farming! 50rai. Bananas, figs, pappaya, guava, olives, pumpkins, watermelons and mangoes. Dont need to burn anything at all. Its laziness. Pure and simple. I rotor and plow fields by hand with a tiller that cost the same as paying someone else to plow the fields once per year. Leftovers are left to naturally breakdown and used as mulch and go back to the soil. I have a mulcher cheap chinese. It died within minutes of operation but actually never needed it.

Theres no excuse at all for burning. Infact our neighbours stopped burning there sugar cane fields and they were ready 2months earlier than everyone elses in the area this year and they used less water due to leaving the leftovers atop the field keeping the ground moist year round. Burning depletes nutrients over time and does nothing good. Its a myth used for lazy people as an excuse. People need to realize change isn't difficult and if it is get another job!

But it's a tradition, like military coups and rich people being above the law.

OK then, done deal. 51 days of no burning. Riiiiiight!

Well I never - first day of the burning ban and first day I haven't been able to see Doi Suthep from my balcony near CM Gate!!!!!!!!!!

2 hours ago, stuartd1 said:

Well I never - first day of the burning ban and first day I haven't been able to see Doi Suthep from my balcony near CM Gate!!!!!!!!!!

I can vaguely make out the outline of Doi Suthep from Nimmanhamin.  That makes this an average or better than average day in March, we will see much worse.

I guarantee, Doi Suthep is still there, I rode up there and checked for you.

On 2/8/2018 at 1:21 PM, bsdthai said:

Im farming! 50rai. Bananas, figs, pappaya, guava, olives, pumpkins, watermelons and mangoes. Dont need to burn anything at all. Its laziness. Pure and simple. I rotor and plow fields by hand with a tiller that cost the same as paying someone else to plow the fields once per year. Leftovers are left to naturally breakdown and used as mulch and go back to the soil. I have a mulcher cheap chinese. It died within minutes of operation but actually never needed it.

Theres no excuse at all for burning. Infact our neighbours stopped burning there sugar cane fields and they were ready 2months earlier than everyone elses in the area this year and they used less water due to leaving the leftovers atop the field keeping the ground moist year round. Burning depletes nutrients over time and does nothing good. Its a myth used for lazy people as an excuse. People need to realize change isn't difficult and if it is get another job!

Right-o! People like you need to educate the "unwashed masses" as to the value of composting.

It's also the answer to a lot of the garbage strewn in the streets.

But these folk are stubborn. It will take some doing.