Air pollution still high in North as burning ban ends

[webfact]

Air pollution still high in North as burning ban ends

By The Nation

 

 

Although it was the last day of the ban on outdoor burning ban in nine northern provinces on Tuesday, multiple forest fires continued to be a problem.
 

A satellite report cited 107 hotspots in the region on Monday with 35 locales in Chiang Rai and 15 sites in Chiang Mai. 

 

With forest fires contributing to the high levels of PM2.5 pollution – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – the 24-hour average of PM2.5 in the nine provinces at 9am on Tuesday ranged between 29-109 micrograms per cubic metres of air, according to the Pollution Control Department. The Thai safe limit is 50 mcg of PM2.5.

 

 

The air in Tambon Wiang Phang Kham in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district was worst off at 109mcg, followed by Tambon Wiang of Muang Chiang Rai (102mcg), Tambon Ban Tom in Muang Phayao (66mcg), and Tambon Chang Pheuk in Muang Chiang Mai (62mcg).

 

In Phayao’s Muang district, officials and volunteers continued to battle the forest fire near Doi Luang for the second day on Tuesday, in a bid to prevent it from reaching farmlands after it had already damaged 100 rai (16 hectares) of forestland.

 

It was expected that the Doi Luang fire would be put off by 1-2 days while those on hard-to-reach steep slopes would be left to burn out by themselves.

 

During the attempt to put off the Doi Luang fire at 5pm on Monday, 59-year-old volunteer Kuan Oi-wan choked on smoke and passed out, prompting others to pull him out and rush him to hospital. He was recovering as of press time.

 

Another fire within a teak tree forest near Phayao University’s medical centre in Tambon Mae Ka was promptly extinguished on Thursday by firefighters, related officials and volunteers.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30368600

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-30

[DNPBC0]

The present unelected Thai government and relevant officials should eventually be held to account for the inevitable deaths and disabilities attributed to PM 2.5 pollution which they have totally failed to control. If this happens (and regrettably I doubt that it will), it will be noted that the 'safe limit of 50 mcg' is an arbitrary national standard and has little to do with safety.

[Samuel Smith]

The ban should be extended until after the rains arrive.  My neighbours have piles of garden cuttings & leaves ready to burn.  Probably same for the farmers.  Gonna be bad again tomorrow ???? 

[THAIJAMES]

1 hour ago, Samuel Smith said:

The ban should be extended until after the rains arrive.  My neighbours have piles of garden cuttings & leaves ready to burn.  Probably same for the farmers.  Gonna be bad again tomorrow ???? 

knowing Thai logic, air will improve after the ban on burning is lifted

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Although it was the last day of the ban on outdoor burning ban in nine northern provinces on Tuesday, multiple forest fires continued to be a problem.

Is there something I've missed in this report - why has the burning ban ended?

 

[Tarteso]

The burning ban ended.
Is this a Joke?

[MartinKal]

The same satellite data used to identify so-called "hot spots", can be matched with Land Registry data, to identify owners of land where burning is used as part of production cycle.

If land is not registered and there is a serious fire, what steps would a functioning government take to protect its forest?

[alant]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Air pollution still high in North as burning ban ends

[THAIJAMES]

23 minutes ago, MartinKal said:

The same satellite data used to identify so-called "hot spots", can be matched with Land Registry data, to identify owners of land where burning is used as part of production cycle.

If land is not registered and there is a serious fire, what steps would a functioning government take to protect its forest?

The key word here is non-functioning government

[THAIJAMES]

I have worked with Thai government on and off for more than 20 years. For the most part I have not seen anyone at the top take any interest other than lining their own pockets or doing something to increase their position.

 

There's plenty of good Thai government workers, they just don't get in a position of power.

Edited May 1, 2019 by THAIJAMES

[KIWILEE]

For the cost of 1 submarine the govt.could have purchased a few helicopters with monsoon buckets that would go on standby in the northern regions and douse these fires before they became too established. From the air they would probably identify a few of the arsonists as well. Imho a far better use of the money.

[spidermike007]

17 hours ago, DNPBC0 said:

The present unelected Thai government and relevant officials should eventually be held to account for the inevitable deaths and disabilities attributed to PM 2.5 pollution which they have totally failed to control. If this happens (and regrettably I doubt that it will), it will be noted that the 'safe limit of 50 mcg' is an arbitrary national standard and has little to do with safety.

Manslaughter, due to negligence. Why on earth would they end the ban on burning? Why would anyone be permitted to burn, when the air quality is still on the level of Beijing. Is Thailand turning into China? What on earth are the authorities thinking? Do they care one iota for the common man? Burning, tackling poorly maintained diesel vehicles, seeking alternative forms of energy. There is so much that could be done, if this hapless and cruel administration only cared about their people.

[Dek Somboon]

15 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Manslaughter, due to negligence. Why on earth would they end the ban on burning? Why would anyone be permitted to burn, when the air quality is still on the level of Beijing. Is Thailand turning into China? What on earth are the authorities thinking? Do they care one iota for the common man? Burning, tackling poorly maintained diesel vehicles, seeking alternative forms of energy. There is so much that could be done, if this hapless and cruel administration only cared about their people.

You’d think it would somehow be possible to find information on how to apply for Thailand’s “new solar photovoltaic scheme”, as of today May 1st: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1648284/energy-regulatory-commission-eyes-b40bn-from-solar-power-projects

 

Well not in Thailand...

[connda]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Air pollution still high in North as burning ban ends

What 'burning ban' was that again, 'eh?

[THAIJAMES]

3 hours ago, KIWILEE said:

For the cost of 1 submarine the govt.could have purchased a few helicopters with monsoon buckets that would go on standby in the northern regions and douse these fires before they became too established. From the air they would probably identify a few of the arsonists as well. Imho a far better use of the money.

Funny thing is that a few years ago they would use a number of helicopters - take water from the lake at Chiang Mai University and other places to put out fires. I have no idea why they no longer do that anymore.

[fullcave]

On 4/30/2019 at 2:43 PM, webfact said:

Air pollution still high in North as burning ban ends

UCMTSU folks! TIT...????