Govt apologises for Bangkok’s suffocating, hazardous smog

[rooster59]

Govt apologises for Bangkok’s suffocating, hazardous smog

By The Nation Weekend

 

 

Prayut finally admits haze can be blamed on diesel-powered vehicles

 

THE GOVERNMENT has apologised to Bangkok citizens about the air pollution that continues to disrupt their daily lives and is threatening their health. 

 

The amount of harmful PM2.5 dust particles in the air has exceeded the safe limit in the capital and adjacent provinces almost daily since late December. 

 

The blue sky typical of this time of year is hidden beyond a grey-yellow haze that could have serious long-term effects on health, and emotions are starting to burn along with the waste and cropland fires that contribute much to the problem.

 

Residents have been venting frustration on social media, complaining about difficulty in breathing and pressing hard for the government to do more to solve the problem in a concrete manner. 

 

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and relevant authorities have taken some action to ease the problem in areas under heavy smog. For instance, they have been trying to crack down on vehicles emitting black fumes and are becoming strict with people burning fires outdoors. Officials have also started keeping a close watch on industrial plants, ensuring there are no toxic fumes coming out of their chimneys. Roads are being regularly hosed down and water is being sprayed in the air in the unsubstantiated hope of bringing down the dust particles.

 

“The government apologises for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank everybody for support and cooperation,” Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a statement on Friday. He also called on owners of diesel-run vehicles to only use their cars in Greater Bangkok when it is absolutely necessary. 

 

“If possible, avoid using them until the smog eases,” he advised as he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine combustion. 

 

“As a long-term solution, we will improve the integrated public-transportation system, fuel quality and exhaust fume standards. We will have more petrol stations offering environmentally-friendly choices and start promoting hybrid or electric vehicles,” the premier said.

 

Separately, Dr Siwatt Pongpiachan, director of NIDA Centre Research and Development of Disaster Prevention and Management, called on the government to start handing out facemasks to people living in areas hit with heavy smog. 

 

“That’s the first thing the government should do because smog is affecting people’s health,” he said. Sitwatt also urged the government to provide people with accurate information, so they know how best to deal with the situation. 

 

“Thailand should learn from other countries that have battled with smog before,” he said. 

 

He also believes Thailand should consider implementing the Clean Air Act and set up an Environmental Protection Agency that can efficiently manage the country’s environment and make it possible for all Thais to enjoy clean air. 

 

The World Health Organisation considers PM2.5 – or particulate matter that is 2.5 micron in size or smaller – as carcinogenic.

 

According to the Pollution Control Department (PCD), it is unsafe if the amount of PM2.5 exceeds 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Anything beyond this, and people will start experiencing health problems. As of Friday, 35 areas of Greater Bangkok suffered unsafe PM2.5 levels. In Bangkok’s Bang Khen district, a cubic metre of air had 83 micrograms of PM2.5, while in Bang Khun Thien district, the level was 77 micrograms of PM2.5. The PM2.5 level along Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district, meanwhile, stood at around 81 micrograms per cubic metre of air. In a move to protect young children, the BMA has already ordered schools to close for two days. Meanwhile, Siam Commercial Bank and Kasikornbank have both urged members of staff who are pregnant, sensitive to dust or have children to take care of to work from home until Tuesday. 

 

In the meantime, operations to fight smog continued in several parts of Greater Bangkok. On Friday morning, four drones took off from Bangkok City Hall to join three fire engines in the latest battle against health-threatening haze. 

 

Water is also being sprayed from the high floors of tall buildings. 

 

The drones, which can cover about a rai (0.16 hectares) per flight, were on Friday spraying parts of Mitmaitree Road, Santiparp Park in Din Daeng, the King Bhumibol Park in Sathorn, Wong Wian Yai in Thon Buri and near the Memorial Bridge in Phra Nakhon.

 

On Saturday, a fleet of small planes mustered by the BMA and Bangkok Aviation Centre will also spray water along Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon.

 

Army chief General Apirach Kongsompong said his forces have also actively responded to the government’s policy on fighting the pollution. 

 

“People should help too. Don’t just blame the government. It’s everybody’s duty,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30363380

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-02

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Army chief General Apirach Kongsompong said his forces have also actively responded to the government’s policy on fighting the pollution. 

 

“People should help too. Don’t just blame the government. It’s everybody’s duty,” he said..." 

 

Why not blame the government? For four years, the army and the government have silenced any and all participation by the people in governing their own affairs. Or, put another way, you stopped people from having a voice, you have to bear responsibility. Suck it up, whinger.

 

I return to a suggestion I made a few days ago. Why not have the PM, the Cabinet, the leaders of the Military, the appointed members of 'Independent' agencies, and the tree-stumps appointed to the NLA all give up their cars for a while? You know, lead by example?

 

Leadership starts at the top, and the top is NOT doing its fair share.

 

Put up or stop complaining.

 

Rather, put up and stop complaining.

 

[Odysseus123]

16 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Army chief General Apirach Kongsompong said his forces have also actively responded to the government’s policy on fighting the pollution. 

 

“People should help too. Don’t just blame the government. It’s everybody’s duty,” he said..." 

 

Why not blame the government? For four years, the army and the government have silenced any and all participation by the people in governing their own affairs. Or, put another way, you stopped people from having a voice, you have to bear responsibility. Suck it up, whinger.

 

I return to a suggestion I made a few days ago. Why not have the PM, the Cabinet, the leaders of the Military, the appointed members of 'Independent' agencies, and the tree-stumps appointed to the NLA all give up their cars for a while? You know, lead by example?

 

Leadership starts at the top, and the top is NOT doing its fair share.

 

Put up or stop complaining.

 

Rather, put up and stop complaining.

 

As Napoleon once remarked "There are no bad regiments there are only bad colonels."

 

Thailand is stuffed full of bad Colonels.

[Lungstib]

Their response to air pollution will have the same effect as their response to road deaths. Little or none. They need a reminder that enforcement of rules is the key, and that's something seldom done. Inactive officials and police permanently positioned in offices will not save the day.

[mok199]

  The headscratching and confusion, followed by the famous ''sorry''...Sorted Then!

Edited February 2, 2019 by mok199

[SoilSpoil]

Only during the rainy season can the people of Thailand breath fresh air. Where China has its industrial complex to blame, Thailand is an agricultural backland that should have blue skies and green mountain views. Stop the burning, from rubbish to fields, and 80% of the problem is solved. An estimated 37,000 people die because of filfhty skies. Totally unacceptable.

[doremifasol]

 

..........he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine combustion. 

 

At last.

 

Welcome to reality.

 

 

[jaiyen]

When Prayut and his gang travel, it isn't in one car. They have a bloody great convoy of police cars and bikes clearing the way for them. Won't ever see them on a bus !

[jaiyen]

When someone says "Sorry"  it is an admission of guilt.  Doesn't mean they are really sorry or will do anything about it.  It is the standard Thai answer to anything they do wrong, then forget about it.

 

[Oziex1]

Again with the reactive response. 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The government apologises for the inconvenience caused

That is the extent of his concern? And people really want him back?! 

[marc651]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Sitwatt also urged the government to provide people with accurate information

Ok so lets start with using the correct scale then, e.g. 25 ug/m3 as upper limit (WHO standards) instead of claiming that its safe until 50 ug/m3 (Chinese standard) which is absolutely untrue

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

“People should help too. Don’t just blame the government. It’s everybody’s duty,”

Point is that the government hasnt done anything. Oh wait, thats not true they did a few things:

- denying there is a problem

- minimizing the problem

- lying, using the wrong scale

- plus lots of effort to thwart the people's demand for real measures

- ridiculous actions such as using drones spraying water

 

How many people have been fined, or even just addressed on starting fires? Zero (safe assumption, I think we all agree)

Did you know not 1 bus has been taken out of traffic? This was declared by the governor, even the old red busses (the ones spewing black clouds) "where within the limits".... So the "checkpoints" have no use then.

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

“Thailand should learn from other countries that have battled with smog before,” he said.

Perfect way to make sure 65 million people ignore anything else he has to say. Thais HATE being told they can learn something from outside this cartoonish country.

[Fex Bluse]

21 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

That is the extent of his concern? And people really want him back?! 

One half expects them to do some ridiculous, childish nonsense like having the government all become fake monks for a day and televising it, of course.

[miamiman123]

Appears tourists are well aware and avoiding Thailand? 

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Army chief General Apirach Kongsompong said his forces have also actively responded to the government’s policy on fighting the pollution. 

 

“People should help too. Don’t just blame the government. It’s everybody’s duty,” he said..." 

 

Why not blame the government? For four years, the army and the government have silenced any and all participation by the people in governing their own affairs. Or, put another way, you stopped people from having a voice, you have to bear responsibility. Suck it up, whinger.

 

I return to a suggestion I made a few days ago. Why not have the PM, the Cabinet, the leaders of the Military, the appointed members of 'Independent' agencies, and the tree-stumps appointed to the NLA all give up their cars for a while? You know, lead by example?

 

Leadership starts at the top, and the top is NOT doing its fair share.

 

Put up or stop complaining.

 

Rather, put up and stop complaining.

 

Easy to blame the government of the day.

Any people will get the leadership they deserve.

And you really think the Thai public, or any other nation all over the world, will do what might be necessary?

Or follow the good example of their "leaders"?

Dream on, for many people a car is a status symbol, giving oodles of face.

Besides, do you really think it will help as authorities, army, don't use their cars for some time.

Maybe 1-2 percent of all cars in Thailand.

Get real!

[realfunster]

1 hour ago, doremifasol said:

 

..........he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine combustion. 

 

At last.

 

Welcome to reality.

 

 

 

I have no doubt this is a serious contributory factor.

 

However, if you look at a National AQI map, it is equally bad in many areas around the whole country. Whilst this may be internal combustion related, I am inclined to believe that the national habit of burning things (agricultural/waste) is also a significant factor at play.

 

Chiang Mai’s smog issues related to agricultural activities in surrounding areas have been well documented for years, without any obvious action being taken. Singapore/Malaysia have suffered greatly with agricultural burnings in Indonesia.

 

Perhaps it is isn’t conincidence that Bangkok’s air quality is worse when then prevailing wind is coming in from the north/east...

 

I expect addressing high emission vehicles via public and manufacturer regulation should be fairly manageable in the short/medium term, I sincerely hope they put as much effort into stopping the habit of crop and waste burning as well.

 

[geisha]

Has the pollution made a definite slow down on tourism yet ? Or is that yet to come ? 

[fruitman]

1 hour ago, jaiyen said:

When Prayut and his gang travel, it isn't in one car. They have a bloody great convoy of police cars and bikes clearing the way for them. Won't ever see them on a bus !

Yes they use loads and loads of policemen to clear the roads for them...those policemen should be writing fines to offenders and make traffic safer. 

[realenglish1]

"he advised as he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine " The prime minister is badly informed It is not just engines on cars and trucks that are causing the problem There are millions of motorcycles that cause part of the problem Get the  MC manufactures to agree to stricter pollution controls. Decades ago the USA forced the auto industry in the USA to curb hydrocarbon emissions. At first the auto makers screamed they could not do it. Then said the price of cars would double Then said oh maybe we can do it and then the regulations came into effect, Guess what everyone they did it and it did not increase the cost of cars that much. So Honda and all you other motorcyle companies The game is over Start producing clean motorcycles Its day has come

[fruitman]

5 minutes ago, geisha said:

Has the pollution made a definite slow down on tourism yet ? Or is that yet to come ? 

The europeans all read about it in the newspapers...the chinese and indians don't care i bet....their countries are even worse and that's why they want to go out of them.

[edwinchester]

Yesterday I read that anyone illegally burning was liable to stiff fines and even imprisonment.

On a visit to our local market in the afternoon the sugarcane plantation next door went up in flames. It is also right next door to the local Police Station.

If it wasn't so pathetically sad it would be hilarious.

We live in Kanchanaburi, one of the provinces worst affected by agricultural burning.

Same as the horrendous road deaths here in that nobody with the power to do something about the problem has either the will or any idea how to solve it.

[fruitman]

2 minutes ago, realenglish1 said:

"he advised as he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine " The prime minister is badly informed It is not just engines on cars and trucks that are causing the problem There are millions of motorcycles that cause part of the problem Get the  MC manufactures to agree to stricter pollution controls. Decades ago the USA forced the auto industry in the USA to curb hydrocarbon emissions. At first the auto makers screamed they could not do it. Then said the price of cars would double Then said oh maybe we can do it and then the regulations came into effect, Guess what everyone they did it and it did not increase the cost of cars that much. So Honda and all you other motorcyle companies The game is over Start producing clean motorcycles Its day has come

It;s only the 2stroke motobikes that pollute...and tuktuk with 2 stroke engine.

 

It's also the suv's with ancient dieselmotors, even the new models sound like a vw Gold diesel from 1980...that's ancient technology sold as new in thailand....put a 'sport'sticker on it and the thai will buy them.

[JimP]

Oh, <deleted> you and your apologies. Start doing something meaningful instead of all this window dressing. It's insulting to our intelligence. 

[yellowboat]

The pollution is sad and disgraceful.   It falling on the shoulders of the junta, a political blessing come election day.  

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, JimP said:

Oh, <deleted> you and your apologies. Start doing something meaningful instead of all this window dressing. It's insulting to our intelligence. 

Yes..very  true..BUT they are not addressing  it to your intelligence-for Thai consumption only.

 

You really do not exist in their universe.

[mok199]

1 hour ago, doremifasol said:

 

..........he agreed that the main cause of the haze could be put down to incomplete engine combustion. 

 

At last.

 

Welcome to reality.

 

 

My boys school, not one bicycle to be seen ,every single student either rides scooter or is driven to school every day( not hard to understand why, with the traffic and heat) Thailands dependency with the vehicle is matched only by their dependency on convenience ...and the new generation will follow the exact same path...driver everywhere you go and throw your garbage on the ground...

Edited February 2, 2019 by mok199

[JimP]

7 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Yes..very  true..BUT they are not addressing  it to your intelligence-for Thai consumption only.

 

You really do not exist in their universe.

Feels too good to call out their stupidity to care if I exist in their coconut shell.

[Zack61]

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

As Napoleon once remarked "There are no bad regiments there are only bad colonels."

 

Thailand is stuffed full of bad Colonels.

And they go on to become bad generals

[Zack61]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Officials have also started keeping a close watch on industrial plants, ensuring there are no toxic fumes coming out of their chimneys

This sounds like a role for DPM Prawit