Chiang Mai could open haze refugee centre

[webfact]

Chiang Mai could open haze refugee centre

By Nisanart Kangwalwong, 
Pannawich Yoodee 
The Nation

 

 

Residents of nine northern provinces choking on hazardous air pollution might soon find refuge in Chiang Mai – at a downtown convention centre equipped with air purifiers as well as air conditioners.
 

It’s the latest idea from Chiang Mai Governor Supachai Iamsuwan, who’s under attack for his administration’s perceived failure to ease the smog situation.

 

Supachai has his officials checking the International Exhibition and Convention Centre to see if it could feasibly serve as a temporary public refuge from the summer heat and stubborn haze.

 

Earlier this week he instructed all districts, health units and local administrative bodies to distribute facemasks and protective advice, raise the humidity and strictly enforce a ban on outdoor burning ban.

 

But in the meantime, Chiang Mai on Monday once again topped the list of the world’s worst air-polluted locales. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of 269 at 10am, as cited at airvisual.com. One hour later it had climbed to 284, surpassed only by Kathmandu, Nepal. The safe limit in Thailand is 100.

 

Chiang Mai’s AQI topped 400 both Saturday and Sunday. Residents on Saturday launched a petition at Change.org calling for the governor to be removed from office for his “ineffectiveness in tackling the haze”. 

 

As of 11am on Monday, more than 19,000 had been added and the target was raised to 25,000.

 

In terms of PM2.5 pollution – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – the Pollution Control Department reported at 9am on Monday that the levels in nine northern provinces ranged from 66-266 micrograms per cubic metre of air. The safe limit is 50.

 

Worst off were Chiang Rai’s Tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai district (266mcg) and Wiang in Muang district (210). 

 

Huai Khon in Nan’s Chalerm Phrakiat district hit 170mcg, Jong Kham in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district 163, and Chang Pheuk in Muang Chiang Mai 158. 

 

Dr Srinapan Phongpan of Phayao Hospital in Phayao, where PM2.5 was measured at 164, said there was a clear connection between the haze and the rising number of people seeking medical help. 

 

People with heart and coronary disease, respiratory disorders and inflamed skin and eyes should be extra careful and see a doctor if their ailments worsened, she said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30366502

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-25

[sanemax]

That really wouldnt work .

All the people of Chiang mai are supposed to go and sit in a convention center ?

For how long ? ten days ?

Where they going to sleep, what they going to eat ?

What about going to schools or going to work ?

An unworkable idea which is probably just for show , to show hes making an effort 

[Thailand]

Airport Plaza would be better plenty of food outlets,aircon, and I am sure the army could front up for sleeping bags and a shuttle service for kids to go to school and plenty of parking for peoples cars so they can get to work.

 

Well thought out idea. ????

[Don Chance]

Oxygen generator might be worth a try.

 

Here is another looks better.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

serve as a temporary public refuge from the summer heat and stubborn haze.

 

The haze may be stubborn. But the local authorities are stupid and inept. Which is worse?

 

[mooping20Baht]

not being facetious but wouldn't it make sense  to  make an attempt to put  out  the fires  as able.  

 

in the thai media  is there ever talk  of  what measure  are being  done  to  'put out the fires'   at all ?

 

or is it more   fatalism   and  losing face ?

[Number 6]

The hub of smog

[sammieuk1]

Sunday drive to take the Mrs to pointlessly vote was like Armageddon stay in the house doors and windows closed no other option in this cesspit ???? 

[brommers]

Just another example of a governor and authorities who lack any will to actually undertake the difficult work of preventing the burning of biomass. They are flailing around like dinosaurs trapped in mud & coming up with ideas that are less than half baked. Of course it would be a good idea to find some purpose for the Convention Centre, but using it as a refugee centre is simply ludicrous. How do people get on with their lives when they are trapped in a venue that is devoid of transport links, retail outlets and any other necessities. And just think of the cost of making the air in the buildings cleaner than outside! Are there enough air purifiers available in Thailand to achieve this?

 

If the situation wasn't dire one might laugh at this ludicrously impractical concept.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

at a downtown convention centre equipped with air purifiers as well as air conditioners.

 

I wonder what kind of "air purifiers" the convention center actually has?  It would be very un-Thai like for the government agencies there to have actually installed in advance anything that actually would work effectively for a large area public facility.

 

[Brunovski]

The government has to take drastic actions, instruct communities across the entire north of Thailand and hold them accountable if they can't enforce the ban of forest fires. Forest fires need to stop! Also, offer some alternatives for farmers so that they don't have to burn the farm fields. For the city, install some of these "Smog free towers" https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-project instead of spraying water in the air, which helps exactly nothing (or almost nothing) in reducing the smog particles. 

[cerox]

Cool. Lets all move to convention center for three months next year ????

 

[cardinalblue]

Mingle in a couple of active TB cases, turn on the fans and blowers full blast, and we’ll have grand old time....

[Ulic]

When is the fly helicopters around to blow the smog away plan going to be unveiled? You know, the same type of plan as the long tails roped together pushing the flood waters downstream to prevent flooding. 

[scorecard]

On 3/25/2019 at 3:26 PM, sanemax said:

That really wouldnt work .

All the people of Chiang mai are supposed to go and sit in a convention center ?

For how long ? ten days ?

Where they going to sleep, what they going to eat ?

What about going to schools or going to work ?

An unworkable idea which is probably just for show , to show hes making an effort 

 In other words the governor thinks it's appropriate to treat CM citizens who mostly have an OK to quite good income and quality of life to be treated as refugees in their own city, how insulting.

 

Plus, and more to the point, he has still taken no substantive action to stop the burning, stop the pollution. 

 

He, and several senior officials of various ministries, should be charged with dereliction of duty and do jail time. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 3/25/2019 at 3:11 PM, webfact said:

strictly enforce a ban on outdoor burning ban.

 

Well, they're certainly doing a great job at that! 

 

[mooping20Baht]

https://www.fccthai.com/events/is-dirty-air-the-new-normal-for-once-tourist-friendly-thailand/