Thailand Enforces Burning Ban to Combat PM2.5 Pollution

[LittleBear57]

Doing the school run in Sattahip yesterday found myself behind a Navy bus belching out black smoke, and when it accelerated you could barely see across the road. That is a government owned vehicle and they can't be bothered to do any rectification work on their own vehicles. It's Thailand, it's all talk and no action. Like the drink driving campaigns at New Year and Songkran all talk. We have to accept the poisonous air or simply move. It'll not change, there's no incentive for it.

 

[kickstart]

10 hours ago, Paul52 said:

Some but not as much as you think and suggest.  Check the wind direction and speed.  The burning that happens in Thailand will have a greater effect, and is where the Thais should focus, ie, clean their own house before they start complaining about their neighbours.

We have checked the wind direction ,for the past 2 months ,with the cool weather it has come from the East, from where Cambodia is, look at the weather map.

 

In my area, a big sugar cane area, most cane is cut by machine ,no burning before hand ,in fact farmers have been saying ,the que for a machine to cut their cane is long, the sugar mill is going to say open  longer ,to receive the cane, so farmers do not burn the cane ,and then  get cutters in ,famers are afraid the mill will shut before they can send they cane in. 

[freedomnow]

Is there any recent point in time it became a tipping point ?

 

You guys that have been here longer than 10-15 years was it not as bad back then ?

[Captor]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo

 

Thailand has instituted a nationwide burning ban to address escalating PM2.5 pollution levels, as stagnant air circulation is expected to persist until early February, potentially exacerbating the situation. The government, keen on mitigating the pollution at its source, announced strict enforcement of the ban across the country.

 

Government spokesman, Jirayu Houngsub, relayed that the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee, which he advises, has taken decisive steps in response to this environmental challenge by heightening measures in regions with the highest pollution concentrations.

 

Municipal bodies are tasked with rigorous adherence to the ban, ensuring compliance and regularly updating the committee on enforcement progress.

 

Additionally, plans are underway for Thailand's Public Health Ministry to dispatch emergency medical teams to assist vulnerable groups, such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with respiratory conditions, and heart disease patients, who are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of the pollution.

 

Key areas reporting the highest PM2.5 levels include Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Nonthaburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

In response, the Public Health Ministry has distributed 1.1 million N95 masks, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has provided 377,000 masks to at-risk populations.

 

The initiative, however, has faced scrutiny in the political arena. During a parliamentary session, opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut criticised the current government's efforts, led by the Pheu Thai party, for insufficient decentralisation in pollution control.

 

He highlighted gaps in budget allocation for forest fire management, noting that of the THB 620 million earmarked for 1,800 sites in 14 provinces, only 90 sites have received funding. This shortfall leaves other high-risk areas unaddressed.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, standing in for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, confirmed that a portion of the budget has been channelled towards disaster prevention training for officers nationwide.

 

This burning ban serves as a pivotal measure in Thailand's ongoing battle against pollution, emphasising the government’s commitment to improving air quality and safeguarding public health, reported Bangkok Post. 

 

-- 2025-01-31

 

 

Not menion who to enforce the same law there has been several years already. So I assume no one got the mission. So nothing will actually happen and in April the issue is forgotten again until next year...

[scorecard]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo

 

Thailand has instituted a nationwide burning ban to address escalating PM2.5 pollution levels, as stagnant air circulation is expected to persist until early February, potentially exacerbating the situation. The government, keen on mitigating the pollution at its source, announced strict enforcement of the ban across the country.

 

Government spokesman, Jirayu Houngsub, relayed that the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee, which he advises, has taken decisive steps in response to this environmental challenge by heightening measures in regions with the highest pollution concentrations.

 

Municipal bodies are tasked with rigorous adherence to the ban, ensuring compliance and regularly updating the committee on enforcement progress.

 

Additionally, plans are underway for Thailand's Public Health Ministry to dispatch emergency medical teams to assist vulnerable groups, such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with respiratory conditions, and heart disease patients, who are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of the pollution.

 

Key areas reporting the highest PM2.5 levels include Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Nonthaburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

 

In response, the Public Health Ministry has distributed 1.1 million N95 masks, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has provided 377,000 masks to at-risk populations.

 

The initiative, however, has faced scrutiny in the political arena. During a parliamentary session, opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut criticised the current government's efforts, led by the Pheu Thai party, for insufficient decentralisation in pollution control.

 

He highlighted gaps in budget allocation for forest fire management, noting that of the THB 620 million earmarked for 1,800 sites in 14 provinces, only 90 sites have received funding. This shortfall leaves other high-risk areas unaddressed.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, standing in for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, confirmed that a portion of the budget has been channelled towards disaster prevention training for officers nationwide.

 

This burning ban serves as a pivotal measure in Thailand's ongoing battle against pollution, emphasising the government’s commitment to improving air quality and safeguarding public health, reported Bangkok Post. 

 

-- 2025-01-31

 

 

... and nobody listened.

[AhFarangJa]

9 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

They can enforce what they want but they need an institution that will do the job and the RTP don't care about it, neighbours don't want to make trouble with their neighbours and Thais don't care at all and continue making wildfires for their trash..

 

The RTP should start working but we all know that will be a dream, unless it is is pocketfilling cases.

An example.. tomorrow voting day.. the big shops are not allowed to sell the neighbourhood shops don't care and sell, but buying votes is no problem and is happening in all places all over the country

 

 

Yep, My Wife got Her 50 Baht to walk 100 metres down the road to vote today. Of course She will not do it........She will take the motorbike.....

[newnative]

9 hours ago, kickstart said:

We have checked the wind direction ,for the past 2 months ,with the cool weather it has come from the East, from where Cambodia is, look at the weather map.

 

In my area, a big sugar cane area, most cane is cut by machine ,no burning before hand ,in fact farmers have been saying ,the que for a machine to cut their cane is long, the sugar mill is going to say open  longer ,to receive the cane, so farmers do not burn the cane ,and then  get cutters in ,famers are afraid the mill will shut before they can send they cane in. 

All that money spent uselessly on free metro rides in Bangkok should have been spent on more machinery for the farmers.

[John Drake]

And more than 24 hours later, the burning and AQI is worse than yesterday.

[John Drake]

11 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Is there any recent point in time it became a tipping point ?

 

You guys that have been here longer than 10-15 years was it not as bad back then ?

 

Maybe when the farmers switched to sugar cane???

[freedomnow]

On 2/1/2025 at 6:47 AM, John Drake said:

 

Maybe when the farmers switched to sugar cane???

I mean say back in 2005 was it this bad ?

[brewsterbudgen]

On 2/1/2025 at 2:43 AM, freedomnow said:

Is there any recent point in time it became a tipping point ?

 

You guys that have been here longer than 10-15 years was it not as bad back then ?

I'm sure it was just as bad - but not social media and no AQI monitoring.  People just got on with life.