PM wants smog problem resolved in seven days

By Saksit Muttafa, 
Krissana Porjit 
The Nation

 

 

While the northern region reeled under the problem of forest fires and haze, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed the government was ready to support the integration of related agencies’ work to tackle this problem in seven days.

 

Prayut, who visited Chiang Mai on Tuesday morning, also said His Majesty the King was concerned about the northern smog crisis and was closely following the situation.

 

 

The premier also presented some forest fire-fighting equipment along with facemasks and drinking water at a ceremony at the 33rd Military Circle at Kawila Camp. Some 100 police, Army and forest firefighters attended the event where the premier praised the sacrifices of the operative officials and forest fire-fighting volunteers and asked them to ensure their safety. 

 

Despite reports of high PM2.5 pollution – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – and the visibly smoggy conditions, Prayut and most people at the event did not wear facemasks. 

 

 

During the ceremony, representatives of a Chiang Mai-based Indian community association donated drinking water and facemasks to the forest firefighters.

 

Prayut also attended a meeting to follow up on the northern forest fire and smog situation at the Bank of Thailand’s Northern Region Office. 

 

He said the government had all along been working on the problem via the Interior Ministry. Provincial governors, district chiefs as well as related state offices had been instructed to oversee the situation in their jurisdiction and tackle the issue, he said. 

 

Prayut said he came to the meeting in the hope of hearing about the haze-tackling measures being implemented, the progress or result, and the obstacles operative officials encountered. 

 

Promising the government’s backing to officials, especially in term of budgets, the premier said that this issue must be resolved in seven days, including fire-hit forestlands and farmlands as well as the haze-affected city areas.

 

Meanwhile, the Chiang Mai Air Quality Health Index (CMAQHI) Centre’s website (cmaqhi.org) said the hourly results of PM2.5 in Chiang Mai’s eight stations in the surrounding districts such as Samoeng, Mae Taeng and Sanpathong were dangerously high at around 500 micrograms (mcg) per cubic metre of air. 

 

The Thai safe limit for PM2.5 is 50mcg. As of 11am, CMAQHI said Tambon Samoeng Tai in Samoeng had 531mcg followed by Tambon Kud Chang in Mae Taeng (502mcg). The air quality in both the places was so bad that the devices kept flashing “Beyond AQI”.

 

The Pollution Control Department put the 24-hour average of PM2.5 at between 39mcg and 238mcg in nine northern provinces. The worst-hit were Tambon Jong Kham in Muang district of Mae Hong Son province (238mcg), Tambon Wiang Phang Kham in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province (145mcg), Wiang in the Muang district of Chiang Rai (144mcg), Chang Pheuk in the Muang district of Chiang Mai (143mcg), Ban Klang in the Muang district of Lamphun province (132mcg) and Huai Khon in Chalerm Phrakiat district of Nan province (122mcg).

 

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency’s fire-monitoring system, citing a satellite image as of 1.36am on Tuesday, said there were 1,969 hot spots in nine northern provinces. Mae Hong Son had the most with 821 hotspots, followed by Chiang Mai (478), Chiang Rai (232), Lampang (116), Tak (89), Nan (77), Phayao (74), Phrae (63), and Lamphun (19).

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30366982

 

 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-02

Yes, use 44 and order the Gods to bring in the rain.

Funny, worried about Smog yet hand out gas powered sprayers.

 

 

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Promising the government’s backing to officials, especially in term of budgets, the premier said that this issue must be resolved in seven days, including fire-hit forestlands and farmlands as well as the haze-affected city areas.

 Just keep talking.......

Knew they would not wear masks as that would bad for the tourism photo ops.

Canute in action in Chiangmai, turning back the tide.

What another joke!  Idiots.  Just like the rest of the countries driving habits, saving face, Sin sot BS, immigration, best place to get married and cross the border, or opening a bank account.  GOOD LUCK.  Welcome to LOS

PM orders haze in North to be tackled in seven days

 

 

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered officials to tackle worsening smog in upper northern provinces within seven days and ordered a manhunt for arsonists who deliberately set forest fires.

 

The Prime Minister flew into Chiang Mai this morning to hold talks with governors and other officials in northern provinces affected by haze which poses a serious threat to health. He offered moral support and urged members of the public to cooperate with the authorities by not burning in the open and to report suspected arsonists.

 

General Prayut also donated face masks to be distributed to the public, as well as equipment and survival kits to officials involved in fighting forest fires.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-orders-haze-in-north-to-be-tackled-in-seven-days/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-04-02

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut and most people at the event did not wear facemasks

Of course they didn’t. Can’t fix stupid. 

Now that the cause is clearly identified (forest fires) this should easily be solved in seven days

The thousands of burning crop/sugar cane fields in Thailand and neighboring countries can be neglected.

A genius at work.

Ordering this to be fixed in 7 days clearly shows he does not have the first clue about the issue. I look forward to his excuse in a weeks time when things are about the same as they are now.

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

and ordered a manhunt for arsonists who deliberately set forest fires.

I'll give you a helping hand....it's the farmers.

I guess he'll get it done in six and will rest on the seventh.

18 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Ordering this to be fixed in 7 days clearly shows he does not have the first clue about the issue. I look forward to his excuse in a weeks time when things are about the same as they are now.

Easy, he can order not to report this issue anymore. Problem solved. 

Canute Prayut at it again ????

 

 

Reminds me of another comedian...Tommy Cooper, he used to say "Just like that",when doing his tricks

regards Worgeordie

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut and most people at the event did not wear facemasks

probably just holding his breath, a pity he didn't hold it a bit longer.

1,969 hot spots in nine northern provinces. 

 

Report back how that demand the smog be cleared in 7 days worked for you!   ????

use planes for water drops

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut and most people at the event did not wear facemasks. 

Says it all. 

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

General Prayut also donated face masks to be distributed to the public, 

Any pics of these? 

 

 

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

PM orders haze in North to be tackled in seven days

 And the pigs are flying....

1 hour ago, webfact said:

was ready to support the integration of related agencies’ work to tackle this problem

 

The only place I've ever heard this kind of absurd, meaningless babble is here....

 

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered officials to tackle worsening smog in upper northern provinces within seven days and ordered a manhunt for arsonists who deliberately set forest fires

Order a manhunt - it’s all been burnt now idiots. The horse has truly bolted!

45 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Ordering this to be fixed in 7 days clearly shows he does not have the first clue about the issue. I look forward to his excuse in a weeks time when things are about the same as they are now.

Spent too long as a General on an army base.

2 minutes ago, totally thaied up said:

it’s all been burnt now

Yes, more or less. Like every year for decades, it's stopping around Songkran. Can't see what all the fuss is about.

and then a few days to sort out the poverty gap, then education, maybe needs 10 days to work on a solution to the problems in the deep south etc. 

A few more brainfarts like this and should be enough to blow the smog away.

"Experts see little changing after Prayut’s visit, blame govt’s policy to push corn cultivation".

 

And who owns the corn plantation? Big corporates; friends of the junta. 

History will say:- "The traditional Thai rain dances originated in 2019 when the population was ordered to perform same by "democratic "junta" leader.......... 

what a joke of course he does this near the end of burning season hoping its finished and he can take credit until next year when its rinse and repeat not to mention the unregulated factories and dirty diesels this country may just be hopeless....