Burning sugarcane fields choke Khon Kaen

By The Nation

 

Photo courtesy of Saree Arayasampun

 

POLLUTION continued to choke the Northeast province of Khon Kaen yesterday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 187, well beyond the “moderate” safety limit of 100.

 

 

PM2.5 dust was measured at 85 micrograms per cubic metre of air and PM10 at 126, both again beyond the safety limits of 50 and 120 respectively, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported.

 

Assoc Professor Dr Kittichai Triratanasirichai, a former president of Khon Kaen University, said the pollution in Khon Kaen had worsened mainly due to the burning of sugarcane and rice stubble and from exhaust fumes. 

 

“If you look from a plane, you will clearly see smoke from sugarcane plantations,” he said, adding that farmers preferred to burn the sugarcane stubble because it was the most convenient way to clear the fields, but this aggravated the smog. 

 

“Exhaust fumes are also a big problem. The amount of dust in the air increases considerably during rush hour,” he noted. 

 

Photo courtesy of Saree Arayasampun

 

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul yesterday called an urgent meeting to seek solutions and called on residents to refrain from lighting outdoor fires, especially when it comes to disposing agricultural waste before harvesting the crop. He also urged people to spray water in front of their homes.

 

Somsak insisted that provincial authorities had been strict about large construction projects and vehicle emissions, adding that agencies were also regularly spraying water to bring down dust particles in at-risk areas. 

 

 

Meanwhile, the PCD said all of Greater Bangkok was within the safe PM2.5 level yesterday and predicted that pollution would decrease further today due to a change in the weather and continued mitigation measures. 

 

The PCD has installed AQI devices in just three provinces in the Northeast, namely Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Loei.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363666

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-07

2 hours ago, webfact said:

, a former president of Khon Kaen University, said the pollution in Khon Kaen had worsened mainly due to the burning of sugarcane

recommend a burning ban of 5 days; anything more would be actually addressing the issue

Criminal behavior, nothing more, nothing less. Start confiscating crops and the problem is solved.

1 hour ago, SoilSpoil said:

Criminal behavior, nothing more, nothing less. Start confiscating crops and the problem is solved.

When has it been against the law to burn the sugarcane before cutting it.????

 

Quote

 

PM2.5 dust was measured at 85 micrograms per cubic metre of air and PM10 at 126, both again beyond the safety limits of 50 and 120 respectively, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported.

 

2 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Criminal behavior, nothing more, nothing less. Start confiscating crops and the problem is solved.

 

Many people use statistics like a drunk uses a lamppost. More for support than illumination

45 minutes ago, ArickChaiyaphum said:

When has it been against the law to burn the sugarcane before cutting it.???

Burning fields, waste etc is illegal in Thailand.

 

However, it's not enforced,  and outdoor burning happens to be the favourite pass time of many (as i am sure you will have noticed)

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“If you look from a plane, you will clearly see smoke from sugarcane plantations,” he said,

But you won't see the amount of emissions from the plane or be able to read the additional PM2.5 & PM10 produced by these emissions.

 

This burning happens every year people. The only reason it is being mentioned this year is because it is flavour of the day. If readings were taken at the same time every year for PM2.5 and PM10, I doubt there would be much difference related to burning, perhaps an increase from traffic emissions. And of course from increased aircraft traffic....................

6 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

But you won't see the amount of emissions from the plane or be able to read the additional PM2.5 & PM10 produced by these emissions.

 

This burning happens every year people. The only reason it is being mentioned this year is because it is flavour of the day. If readings were taken at the same time every year for PM2.5 and PM10, I doubt there would be much difference related to burning, perhaps an increase from traffic emissions. And of course from increased aircraft traffic....................

Yes but that does not mean they should not do something about the burning. Farmers always take the easy way out with burning. Huge fines should be imposed and checks on black smoke belching cars / pickups and busses should be done year round, plus the MOT should be checked for not following the rule. If any car caught belching black smoke that had a MOT check in the last month they should go after that MOT station too. 

Summon the governor, summon the chief of police & sack them both immediately!

The next two in charge might take their responsibilities a bit more seriously !

End of problem!

21 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yes but that does not mean they should not do something about the burning. Farmers always take the easy way out with burning. Huge fines should be imposed and checks on black smoke belching cars / pickups and busses should be done year round, plus the MOT should be checked for not following the rule. If any car caught belching black smoke that had a MOT check in the last month they should go after that MOT station too. 

Couldn't agree more.

31 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

This burning happens every year people. The only reason it is being mentioned this year is because it is flavour of the day. If readings were taken at the same time every year for PM2.5 and PM10, I doubt there would be much difference related to burning, perhaps an increase from traffic emissions. And of course from increased aircraft traffic....................

Burning does happen every year, but the burning of sugar cane on the scale it is now being burnt is relatively new, over the past five years or so farmers have been encouraged and indeed paid to plant sugar cane and get away from rice. It is illegal to burn sugar cane, the law is poorly enforced but is enforced to some extent in some areas as my FIL was threatened with jail time when he was going to burn his crop outside of KK.

1 hour ago, chrisinth said:

Couldn't agree more.

Can't find any info on 2.5 and sugar cane burning but it is a real pain...black grass and pool everyday. Need to fine fine fine farmers, sugar cane factories and educate mothers it's killing their children with asthma etc. Only the mothers will stop it. 

7 minutes ago, gavlar said:

Can't find any info on 2.5 and sugar cane burning but it is a real pain...black grass and pool everyday. Need to fine fine fine farmers, sugar cane factories and educate mothers it's killing their children with asthma etc. Only the mothers will stop it. 

 

Agricultural burning creates PM2.5 among other air pollutants... Best to be avoided for your health:

 

 

2 hours ago, chrisinth said:

But you won't see the amount of emissions from the plane or be able to read the additional PM2.5 & PM10 produced by these emissions.

 

This burning happens every year people. The only reason it is being mentioned this year is because it is flavour of the day. If readings were taken at the same time every year for PM2.5 and PM10, I doubt there would be much difference related to burning, perhaps an increase from traffic emissions. And of course from increased aircraft traffic....................

Absolutely bizarre-"It is the flavour of the day"It is because people are choking in smoke and smog-and there are laws in place to prevent it.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Burning sugarcane fields choke Khon Kaen

They must have 'ignited' the fire with the deadly diesel fuel.....

13 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Criminal behavior, nothing more, nothing less. Start confiscating crops and the problem is solved.

And do what with the people that are left destitute? Might be better off with an education program and a workable solution. Ground sugarcane makes excellent soil additive for instance.

10 hours ago, chama said:

And do what with the people that are left destitute? Might be better off with an education program and a workable solution. Ground sugarcane makes excellent soil additive for instance.

Those left destitute have no right to risk other people's health just because they are poor. Burning is illegal and hence criminal. No excuses, 37,000 people die each year of air pollurion in Thailand alone.

This practice goes on all over the Kingdom. In Kanchanaburi recently and the mountains were ablaze nearly every day. Smoky, smoggy mess daytime, but a beautifully surreal sight at night.

 

Needs to be banned immediately. 

All of SE Asia is ablaze not just Thailand. Try this link and look closely at your area. https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#z:8;c:103.7,14.7;t:adv-points;d:2019-02-06..2019-02-07;l:firms_viirs,firms_modis_a,firms_modis_t

On 2/7/2019 at 9:18 AM, marc651 said:

Burning fields, waste etc is illegal in Thailand.

 

However, it's not enforced,  and outdoor burning happens to be the favourite pass time of many (as i am sure you will have noticed)

 

Yes indeed, and most of the burning is done at night when the "authorities" are asleep. It is all about money. Many cut the cane with "Leaves on" but this means waste is included in the weight when delivered to the sugar refinery. If the leaves are burnt off more of the cane itself can be stacked on to lorries to provide more cash at the expense of environmental pollution.