Anutin Orders Stricter Measures to Curb Burning and Reduce PM 2.5

[PETERTHEEATER]

If his orders have no effect I expect him to personally lead a team firefighters on a parachute jump into a key area and create fire breaks. Good to see from his wings that he has kept up his training and qualified to a high standard.

[BusyB]

 

Like last year, and the year before, and every  d e c a d e  since (probably before) I first arrived in Thailand.

 

It's like road safety. I accept the way things are and that noone seems to care or is capable of doing something, but I do find the mentality hard to grasp. 

 

Maybe I'll understand in another decade or two.

[PeterA]

I don't see it ever happening. More so in the country, far from the police or government. Burning goes on here every day, year round. Oh, the police are here, so they say. But you never see them, only when stopping and checking motorcycles once a month or so. 

[Sydebolle]

Define offenders:
a) the farmers slash-and-burning the land they are working on
b) the loan sharks breathing down the farmers necks on overdue payment of interest and principal repayment of loans for seeds, fertilizers etc

c) the buyers of rice and sugar cane, squeezing the prices to rock-bottom levels allowing literally almost no earning for the farmer
d) the education system of Thailand keeping those farmers ignorant as their fathers and forefathers
e) those benefitting of the products like feed mills and the few selected rice traders creaming off real top cream

Yet Anutin, like all his cronies, are on very thin ice. The very same farmers they want to hunt in droves and threatened with legal consequences (whatever those are) are the very same people being those political parties backbone as electoral voter base. So giving those farmers a tough time instead of going after the real culprit might backfire and the dinosaurs got some taste of that in 2019, and much more already in 2023. 

You may now kiss the ring 😉 

[harryviking]

12 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

It would take much regulation, enforcement, and billions of dollars to fix this issue.  Bottom line it will never happen ever, just get worse.

That could actually scare  tourists from coming to Thailand, or any of it neighbors as I guess the problem is the same there. That will cost more than a few billion baht or so and at least get the levels as close to "acceptable" as possible. The smog is the reason I have, as a start, cut my stay here to 5 months instead of nearly a year. 

[damian]

7 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Hard to accept that anyone can be this stupid.....or maybe he isn't, and he's just playing the politician's role of...."I told them to do this, so my job is done"

 

The burning here is extensive.....but it is roadside burning by the authorities themselves......sugarcane burning has yet to start in earnest...these hills will eventually disappear from view by early Feb.

Got a similar view where I am. Well I did have a month ago. Now I can't see anything. 

[ThailandGuy]

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Even India does emissions testing and enforced on vehicles. 

 

Why can't Thailand? You literally see cars, motorbikes, scooters all emitting dangerous vapours that are visible to the human eye.

 

Even the public red is still on the roads blowing out BLACK DIESEL SMOKE. That is literally the most disgusting thing i've ever seen. 

 

Start on the basic things they have control off ! 

Maybe they really don't care?   I always wonder how these bikes and cars can drive around.  In my country they would have been set aside and not allowed to drive any further from that point on.

[ThailandGuy]

when i am in Thailand the snot/mucus in my nose turns black within 24 hours after arriving.  Their lungs must be black as can be.  Do they really care about air quality?  I guess it is a lot bla bla bla bla for the media and doing nothing in reality.

[Purdey]

While I understand that farmers have been burning for centuries, development means teaching them a better way. 

Shame! 

[Surasak]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin Charnvirakul. File photo courtesy: Thai Rath

 

Thailand’s Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mandated provincial governors and district officers nationwide to enforce strict measures against burning activities to reduce PM2.5 pollution. Offenders will face legal consequences.

 

On 22nd January 2025, Traisulee Traisoranakul, Secretary to the Interior Minister and Ministry spokesperson, reported that due to current weather conditions, many areas across the country are suffering from increased PM2.5 pollution, adversely affecting public health.

 

To address this, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed all provincial governors to issue directives to their district officers.

The aim is to monitor air quality closely and implement measures that prevent open burning, particularly in agricultural areas and the burning of waste, which are major sources of toxic dust.

 

The ministerial directive also emphasises collaboration between governors, district officers, and relevant agencies to inspect and educate the public on the adverse effects of pollution and the necessary control measures. Non-compliance with these rules will result in strict legal action.

 

Traisulee highlighted that the minister expressed concerns over weather conditions that trap pollutants, worsening the PM2.5 crisis and posing a severe health risk to the public.

 

Therefore, authorities nationwide are urged to implement a no-burning policy rigorously, increase inspection frequency, and ensure compliance, with penalties enforced against violators as the problem of air pollution remains a significant threat to public health, reported Daily News.

 

-- 2025-01-23

 

 

 

 

The guy across the road on the corner from me needs a talking too. At least twice a week he burns rubbish which stinks to high heaven, and of course a right arrogant so and so to boot.

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, damian said:

Got a similar view where I am. Well I did have a month ago. Now I can't see anything. 

 

Sat outside now,19:40, the air stinks and my eyes are stinging.....going to have to go indoors.....ridiculous.

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

Sat outside now,19:40, the air stinks and my eyes are stinging.....going to have to go indoors.....ridiculous.

 

Up to 193 here right now, which doesn't bode well for tomorrow morning, as that's 20-30 more then earlier in the week at this time of day.

[trainman34014]

Pissing in the Wind comes to mind !

[ThailandGuy]

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

While I understand that farmers have been burning for centuries, development means teaching them a better way. 

Shame! 

A better way costs money which they don't have. So they cheapest way is burning the fields.  Which they will keep on doing.

[BangkokReady]

10 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

That's what all these worthless Thai politicians do, they say a lot, do nothing.....but because they said something, or ordered others to, their job is done.

 

To be fair, this isn't exclusive to politicians in Thailand.

[fondue zoo]

12 hours ago, zepplin said:

Therefore, authorities nationwide are urged to implement a no-burning policy rigorously,

 

Oh I see what is wrong, you urged them again.

 

 

https://aq-tracker-servir.adpc.net/map

 

[fondue zoo]

He didn't order, he urged?

[MarkBR]

Performative.  Nothing will happen.  Like most in govt., as useful as a chocolate teapot.

[SleepyJoe]

This time of year sugar cane is harvested in LOS, burning allows efficient sugarcane harvesting.  This is a big issue around the world where sugar cane is grown commercially,  including the U.S. in places like Hawaii, Florida and Louisiana.   Thailand is a major exporter so it can be particularly concentrated and hazardous here and SEA in general.   Unfortunately burning remains the most efficient way of getting rid of the unneeded parts (the leafy trash) of the sugar cane stalk before harvesting.   What I've personally been explained is that workers are paid around 400 baht per 100M row to cut burned sugar cane.   They are paid 700 baht per 100M row to cut unburned sugar cane which requires removing the "trash" manually.   Much more costly and the trash still needs to dealt with after.   Hand harvesting allows the remaining cane stub to re-grow and harvested again up to three seasons before it requires replanting.   Mechanical harvesting is very costly and crushes the stubs, still requiring the remaining "leafy trash" to be dealt with, usually by means of burning!  I believe the politicians are making the statements are just words not a  real solution.    IMHO the answer needs to be technology which will require first we pay a much higher price for sugar.  

[rwill]

16 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

 

 

What type of tree is that?  I like the cut of his jib.

 

 

 

Cochlospermum.  Suphanica in Thai.

Pretty tree but messy.  Around December all the leaves fall off and then the blooms start opening and for a couple months you have a constant drop of flowers on the ground, about tea cup sized.

[Mr Meeseeks]

21 hours ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

Lots of CCP money pouring into Cambodia. Not so much the charming place I remembered from 2012 I can tell you...

 

Phnom Penh was the best kept secret in South East Asia in the early 2000's. 

 

It was a wild 24-hour party town, bars with young, pretty and non-pushy staff, cheap as chips, loads of cool places to drink and eat at all hours.

 

Sharkys, Pickled Parrot on 104, 1Zero4, Colonial Bar, Zanzibar, Rose Bar, Zapatas, Walkabout, Howies, Shanghai, White Cobra, Heart of Darkness, Candy Bar, etc

 

Great memories but changed days now, unfortunately. 

[Andycoops]

Anutin might as well order some Som Tam because any orders he issue's about burning won't reach the ears of farmers in Nakhon Nowhere.

And even if they did hear his order they would ignore it.

 

Unless they start dragging farmers into the courts to pay hefty fines then it will continue.

[lordgrinz]

He is doing a bang up job along with the Health Minister, and our absentee PM, this morning the AQI is already at 215 and climbing here near the Bangkok Immigration office. I really hope the little Thaksin princess is enjoying her shopping spree in Switzerland while her countrymen are choking and dying from pollution.

[MalcolmB]

20 hours ago, sambum said:

And that makes him well qualified to do what exactly - apart from make money? 

He was democratically elected by the Thai people.

If you don’t like it then leave.

[roo860]

5 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

He was democratically elected by the Thai people.

If you don’t like it then leave.

🥱 

[atpeace]

On 1/23/2025 at 6:57 AM, DonniePeverley said:

Even India does emissions testing and enforced on vehicles. 

 

Why can't Thailand? You literally see cars, motorbikes, scooters all emitting dangerous vapours that are visible to the human eye.

 

Even the public red is still on the roads blowing out BLACK DIESEL SMOKE. That is literally the most disgusting thing i've ever seen. 

 

Start on the basic things they have control off ! 

Agreed! I get that a good amount of the pollution isn't local.  Sure some blows over on occasion from other countries or other provinces but most of the severe pollution in my area is because of night time burning of trash and dry vegetation at homes.  Sun goes down with 45 PM 2.5 and wakeup with 180 PM 2.5.  One or two homes  that are burning at night can cause the village to be blanketed in terrible air through early afternoon the next day.

 

Get the police out at night and start fining the home owners.  The village head gave a loud speech telling people to stop the burning yesterday and today was a little better.  It won't last 😞

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Agreed! I get that a good amount of the pollution isn't local.  Sure some blows over on occasion from other countries or other provinces but most of the severe pollution in my area is because of night time burning of trash and dry vegetation at homes.  Sun goes down with 45 PM 2.5 and wakeup with 180 PM 2.5.  One or two homes  that are burning at night can cause the village to be blanketed in terrible air through early afternoon the next day.

 

Get the police out at night and start fining the home owners.  The village head gave a loud speech telling people to stop the burning yesterday and today was a little better.  It won't last 😞

 

Like every law, regulation, rule, order, they are completely ignored by the people because Thailand doesn't have a competent or functioning police-force/government. 

[fondue zoo]

so from the other angle, what has to happen for the farmers to make them fix/stop, without lightening their pockets?  access to harvesting equipment?

[lordgrinz]

Just now, fondue zoo said:

so from the other angle, what has to happen for the farmers to make them fix/stop, without lightening their pockets?  access to harvesting equipment?

 

Arrest them, seize and confiscate their property, then sell the property and use the proceeds to pay for those who are sick and dying  from their illegal activities. This goes for any companies that are buying from these farmers as well. 

[KhunBENQ]

17 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Every year the same same in CM is starting to get bad head down to the island soon TIT

Too late.

Almost impossible to find a green spot this morning.

Another poster wrote about Ko Samui at about AQI 130.

Explain that with agricultural and waste burning?

 

This genius minister avoids to name one of the biggest problems in pollution by vehicles with poor exhaust standards. For Bangkok and other areas the use of coal power stations and lot of industry adds up.