‘I Don’t Know What To Do’ About Smog: Bangkok Governor

By Jintamas Saksornchai, Staff Reporter

 

A drone flies Thursday morning near City Hall and the Grand Swing in Bangkok. Inset, Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang in a Matichon photo.

 

BANGKOK — After deploying water cannons and drones to combat unhealthy smog that shows no sign of abating, Bangkok’s governor Thursday called an emergency expert meeting to discuss solutions to the surging pollution, saying “I don’t know what to do.”

 

City Hall this morning began flying 50 drones above the capital to spray water into the air in hope of decreasing levels of harmful ultrafine particles, a method that’s been repeated despite being dismissed as scientifically ineffective. After releasing the drones this morning, Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang said he had invited experts in relevant fields to a meeting today to tell him what should be done.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2019/01/31/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-smog-bangkok-governor/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2019-01-31

 

 

Well,he certainly appears intelligent in the photo above.

Ban all diesel pickups?

What just happened? Someone in a relatively powerful position admitted that they did not know what to do? That in itself is refreshing. 

there is no quick fix, it is a long term solution

 

Effective vehicle emission checks (yes they do it already) would be a start - banded by the age of the vehicle, diesels are something different entirely

 

vehicles pumping out very obvious clouds of smoke should be taken off the road and that includes public transport - zero tolerance  

9 minutes ago, GarryP said:

What just happened? Someone in a relatively powerful position admitted that they did not know what to do? That in itself is refreshing. 

No what it is is that he does not want to take hash measures like banning diesel trucks and other black smoke belching vehicles. Because doing something like that would make him unpopular so he needs someone higher up to back him up for tough measures. Just passing the buck. Or maybe he wants experts to advise on tough measures and let them take the blame.

Any “experts “ would know that being reactive not proactive is part of Thailand !Too late to do anything


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20 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I don’t know what to do.”

That would be the most honest response I have seen to the worsening situation.

What about Hybrid buses and trucks with low sulphur diesel. CNG/LNG cars. Emissions checks as Smedly pointed out. 

What just happened? Someone in a relatively powerful position admitted that they did not know what to do? That in itself is refreshing. 

That's the first time in many years I have ever heard a thai use the words I don't know. Usually they just make something up

Aswin calls on experts to help tackle Bangkok's air pollution problem

By The Nation

 

 

Bangkok governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang on Thursday called on experts to give advice on how best to tackle the severe air pollution that has blanketed the city.

Photo Courtesy of Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station

Buildings of Bangkok's Sathorn area are in thick haze as of 7am on Thursday.

 

Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department reported 41 Greater Bangkok areas as having unsafe levels of PM2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller – on Thursday morning and affirmed the PM2.5 would continue accumulating until February 4.

 

Aswin called on expert assistance while presiding over a ceremony at the Khon Muang Plaza on Thursday morning to dispatch 50 drones to spray water at haze-affected locations including Kasetsart University, the Lat Phrao five-prong intersection, Lumphini Park and Rama 9 bridge areas. 

 

 

The drones – each with a capacity to carry 10 litres of water – were provided by a private association in Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

Aswin said he had invited experts to brainstorm for solutions at a meeting at City Hall on Thursday. 

 

"I don't know everything, so I urge [experts] to give their input so that I can get things done,” he said.

 

Aswin said the city had been trying to wash roads and roadside plants to improve the situation and his deputies have coordinated with the owners to help spray water from the top of tall building. 

 

District office chiefs were told to check on factories that may have contributed to the pollution and report back to Aswin, he said, adding that the problematic factories would be asked to cut short their working hours during the pollution period. 

 

He said the city also asked people to co-operate by using a diesel-engine vehicle only when necessary and refraining from outdoor burning. Chinese shrines and foundations have been asked to perform Chinese New Year rituals in a way that would minimise their impact.

 

The PCD daily update said 41 areas of Greater Bangkok had seen the PM2.5 levels rising beyond the safe limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air (including 24 roadside spots and 17 general locales). 

 

Many areas in Bangkok reported code-red levels of PM2.5 beyond 90 micrograms per cubic metre of air, including the front of Kasetsart University in Bang Khen district (106 micrograms); Charansanidwong Road area in Bang Phlat district (94 micrograms); Bang Kho Laem district (92 micrograms); Bung Kum district (92 micrograms); Bang Khun Thien district (91 micrograms). 

 

Vicinity province areas that saw beyond-safe PM2.5 levels included Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district (91 micrograms) and Rama II roadside spot in Samut Sakhon's Muang district (95 micrograms), the latter of  which had Wednesday's highest level of 141 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air. 

 

The PCD said the situation would not improve on Friday, which is forecast to have no wind, and PM2.5 levels would continue accumulating until February 4.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363282

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-31

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang said he had invited experts in relevant fields to a meeting today to tell him what should be done.

A resignation?

The only things that will disperse this is wind and rain and i dont think theres much cloud about to seed and make rain ?

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

"I don't know everything, so I urge [experts] to give their input so that I can get things done,” he said.

 

Hey Aswin!!!   The fact you don't know "everything" is obviously the case, since everything the BMA has been doing thus far has been scientifically useless.

 

So why did it take you weeks of futile time wasting until now to start asking people who (may) actually know what needs to be done about local air pollution...

 

Here's two quick tips -- STOP THE BURNING!!!  START SERIOUSLY ENFORCING VEHICLE EMISSIONS!!!

 

Not by relying on useless police to ticket offenders, which does nothing. But instead, start a vehicle emissions inspection and compliance program in BKK, and require annual or every two year testing and certifications, including any time a vehicle is sold.

 

13 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The only things that will disperse this is wind and rain and i dont think theres much cloud about to seed and make rain ?

 

Maybe for right now... But for the ongoing, every year repeating problem, there are solutions...and that requires dealing with the SOURCES of the pollution -- stop the burning and seriously enforce vehicle emission standards, probably starting with larger diesel vehicles and then working downward.  Those kinds of steps will solve or substantially lessen the problem.

 

Edited January 31, 20197 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

What is it with Thai's in authority positions and their obsession with propellers? First we had old Plodprasop  trying to do a Moses and reversing rivers flow by tethering boats to the river bank and running the engines balls to the wall, and now this. It is never going to work lads! The English expression is "urinating" into the ocean.

I like the word "Brain storm". I think most decisions made here are from a form of brain storm, as know as a brain fart! No point asking the experts from here in Thailand as they were her when it all started and did nothing. Better to call in some real experts from outside of Thailand to actually come up with a plan of action. Also just kick all the black fume belching buses that are clearly pass their sell by date out of BKK and make the companies by either newer buses or seek alternative fueled transport.

Solutions are there but not without financial pain. The decision will be centered on who's slated to pay the most for reduction methods. Cutting transport of goods/people (by restricting due to emissions), general reduction of traffic in Bangkok and industry production being curtailed to reduce pollutants will have an effect but will also hurt the pocket of the average Thai and his 300 bt a day wage in the long run. Teeth gnashing aplenty with this one with no easy way out, and the current leaders must be choked (literally) over the timing of this mess. 

This is the ''Big Enchalada'',  no quick fix , no pie charts and photo opps,no promises and blame...this is about thainess , lawlessness and entitlement......good luck with this one ,you will need it...(Amazing Thailand... that gig is over)

Edited January 31, 20197 yr by mok199

Get BJ on the job!

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

I Don’t Know What To Do’ About Smog: Bangkok Governo

We know.

I Don’t Know What To Do’ About Smog: Bangkok Governor. 

 

Let me consult my fortune teller and I will get back to you with a better idea than not lighting candles. It wouldn't be easy though. 

I just got an air purifier for in my home, amazing that it started at a bit under 100Pm inside my airconditioned house. Now its down to 36, but every time i open the door it goes up a bit.

 

I am not even in the bad part of BKK, but I was amazed at how high it was in a home. I imagined the aircon would have filtered out more of it.

 

Probably move the unit from my living-room to the bedroom tonight. 

There is no such thing as 'safe limit' for PM2.5 pollution.

 

There is also no real safe way to cross a road or.....

What we need is a committee consisting of a number of smaller committees to hold regular seminars involving lots of talking and no real-world outcome.

2 minutes ago, SkyNets said:

What we need is a committee consisting of a number of smaller committees to hold regular seminars involving lots of talking and no real-world outcome.

 

You're forgetting about the mandatory government official field trips to Mae Hong Son... so they can relieve their stress and tensions of combating the BKK air pollution by enjoying the local "delights." 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang said he had invited experts in relevant fields to a meeting today to tell him what should be done.

Go look at London .. If you're serious about this .. But its a large and bitter pill to swallow 

Saddly many of us ''were right'' , and we see Thailands future as a polluted 3rd world country with little to no tourism , all the good hotels and restaurants will close and the city will fall into even worse disrepair...Thais do not care enough to even p/u trash behind themselves ,how the f do you expect them to comply with strict emissions control..NO WAY

Just raise the Thai acceptable level of PM2.5 from 50 micrograms to 100 micrograms and problems solved instantly.

Don't worry that the WHO acceptable upper reading for PM2.5 is 25 micrograms because:

 

THAI SMOG IS DIFFERENT!!