Bangkok Mass Transit Authority Ordered To Immediately Reduce Fumes

[webfact]

POLLUTION

BMTA ordered to immediately reduce fumes

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday ordered Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to reduce the black smoke from over 14,000 public buses that cause pollution in the capital. BMTA must follow the order immediately, the court ruled.

The court stood by the verdict earlier handed by the Central Administrative Court. The case was brought to the court in 2002 by Anti-Global Warming Association's chairperson Srisuwan Janya, who said the government agency failed in ensuring no black smoke in the operations of its own buses and buses operated by concessionaires. The Pollution Department was also enlisted as a defendant.

The Central Administrative Court in 2006 ruled that BMTA was negligent and must launch actions, with progress reports back to the court every three months. However, the Pollution Department was not deemed responsible for the mishap.

"This case, launched on behalf of laymen, is setting a new standard for government agencies, state enterprises and public organisations involved in public services. They must take into account the quality of life in the operations, above profits or other gains which are shared among executives in the form of bonus, welfare, and meeting allowance, having the poor as the hostages," Srisuwan said today.

-- The Nation 2012-10-30

[Thai at Heart]

I like this type of story. Lets see if anything moves forward though.

[laurentbkk]

They do controls all the time on buses or trucks for years ...nothing has changed so far ...... and I dont think anything will ever change ... I am ready to bet .

[Mario2008]

Who said the courts in Thailand are not independent.

[warfie]

Who said the courts in Thailand are not independent.

Everyone who's ever had anything to do with them...

[h90]

They do controls all the time on buses or trucks for years ...nothing has changed so far ...... and I dont think anything will ever change ... I am ready to bet .

no it had changed to the better. It was much worse 10 years ago....

[MaxLee]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

[Payboy]

The case was brought to the court in 2002

Looking forward to the fume reductions by 2022.

[FarangTalk]

Just more hot air.

[floridaguy]

I would just be happy if buses pointed their exhaust pipes up from the top instead of directly in the face of every person who rides a motorbike and into your car window if you have a low car.

[EvilDrSomkid]

They could start by having proper driver training. The way these guys drive those old and worn down buses it is no wonder they spew filth.

They would save a bunch of fuel, too.

If the court could move on those giant cartoon buses, and force them to improve emissions and proper driver training.

Not to mention those 40 year old Izusu trucks with no doors and the trumpet exhausts.

btw, all the smoke in the picture is from the motosais.

Edited October 30, 2012 by EvilDrSomkid

[h90]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

I recall when they wanted to make the airport link extended to Pattaya......PTP blocked that idea furiously, because they Taxi drivers are their power base and the car manufacturer don't want to sell less cars.

[EvilDrSomkid]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

I recall when they wanted to make the airport link extended to Pattaya......PTP blocked that idea furiously, because they Taxi drivers are their power base and the car manufacturer don't want to sell less cars.

Really? You have any reference?

Why don't they stop the tour buses then?

[saltandpepper]

I like this type of story. Lets see if anything moves forward though.

Don't hold your breath on this...... oh wait, actually, it's better to hold your breath

[Katipo]

They do controls all the time on buses or trucks for years ...nothing has changed so far ...... and I dont think anything will ever change ... I am ready to bet .

no it had changed to the better. It was much worse 10 years ago....

Agreed. As a motorcycle rider in Bkk for 8 years I can confirm that the black smoke problem is much better now than 5+ years ago.

[BourbonSt]

The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday ordered.......

This begs the question of who is going to enforce this? I can just see a policeman stopping a bus and taking 200 Bt. to "let it go"

[Thai at Heart]

If you look at the picture, the smoke is coming out of the tuk tuk in the front of the picture obscured by the bikes.

[h90]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

I recall when they wanted to make the airport link extended to Pattaya......PTP blocked that idea furiously, because they Taxi drivers are their power base and the car manufacturer don't want to sell less cars.

Really? You have any reference?

Why don't they stop the tour buses then?

You don't recall how many people spoke for the extension and the government did not want to do.....

OK, maybe the government simply didn't know that many people from Bangkok and from the airport travel to Pattaya or the the industrial estates which are close.

you can choose what is worse....

[EvilDrSomkid]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

I recall when they wanted to make the airport link extended to Pattaya......PTP blocked that idea furiously, because they Taxi drivers are their power base and the car manufacturer don't want to sell less cars.

Really? You have any reference?

Why don't they stop the tour buses then?

You don't recall how many people spoke for the extension and the government did not want to do.....

OK, maybe the government simply didn't know that many people from Bangkok and from the airport travel to Pattaya or the the industrial estates which are close.

you can choose what is worse....

I must have missed that. Which government blocked that?

It must have been a nightmare to decide who would build it, have control over it, get the biggest kickbacks etc.

Just look at the trouble with the BTS contract extension.

Having a lightrail line from Bangkok/Swampy to Pattaya would be fantastic. Would seriously cut down on road traffic.

edit: Come to think of it, a dual rail line for cargo between Khlong Toey Port / Swampy cargo terminal and Laem Chabang Port would be even better.

Edited October 30, 2012 by EvilDrSomkid

[jackinthebox]

Does anyone know how old this red 8-Baht Buses (Modell HINO) are? The Diesel-engine dates from the reign of Rama V. maybe?!

[EvilDrSomkid]

Does anyone know how old this red 8-Baht Buses (Modell HINO) are? The Diesel-engine dates from the reign of Rama V. maybe?!

Nearly new I tell you! No older than 1983.

[Nickymaster]

Who said the courts in Thailand are not independent.

Me.

Imagine the "deals" you can make when buying thousands of buses (from china).

[Sateev]

If you look at the picture, the smoke is coming out of the tuk tuk in the front of the picture obscured by the bikes.

Tuk-tuks and motosais don't make black smoke. They make bluish smoke, from the oil, either mixed in the fuel (old bikes/tuk-tuks), or from worn rings.

Buses make black smoke, as a result of burning diesel oil. Black smoke is mostly carbon particles (particulates), and is particularly bad for lungs. Buses are, by far, the greatest polluters in Bangkok.

[Thai at Heart]

If you look at the picture, the smoke is coming out of the tuk tuk in the front of the picture obscured by the bikes.

Tuk-tuks and motosais don't make black smoke. They make bluish smoke, from the oil, either mixed in the fuel (old bikes/tuk-tuks), or from worn rings.

Buses make black smoke, as a result of burning diesel oil. Black smoke is mostly carbon particles (particulates), and is particularly bad for lungs. Buses are, by far, the greatest polluters in Bangkok.

What color is the smoke in the picture?

[jerrysteve]

When they say IMMEDIATELY, the Thai Translation is DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.

Edited October 30, 2012 by jerrysteve

[EvilDrSomkid]

If you look at the picture, the smoke is coming out of the tuk tuk in the front of the picture obscured by the bikes.

Tuk-tuks and motosais don't make black smoke. They make bluish smoke, from the oil, either mixed in the fuel (old bikes/tuk-tuks), or from worn rings.

Buses make black smoke, as a result of burning diesel oil. Black smoke is mostly carbon particles (particulates), and is particularly bad for lungs. Buses are, by far, the greatest polluters in Bangkok.

What color is the smoke in the picture?

Blue.

Look at the tail pipe of the hind most motosai in the picture.

[warfie]

Plodprasop will have the answer! let's have nuclear powered buses!

[lizardtongue]

And the money for this mass revamp is going to come from?

Obviously the courts had a meeting with the finance minister and sorted out the funding before making it's ruling?

Another lot of hot polluted air!

But hey, soon there are going to be 300 cycle stations around the city this will put the buses out of business?

[lizardtongue]

Off topic but wouldn't it be interesting to go back 1, 2 or even 5 years and see how many proposals of a similar nature have actually come to fruition, far too many JD & cokes silly question!

[smutcakes]

How about encouraging Bangkokians to ditch their cars and revamp the Public Transportation system and infrastructure in the first place?

Secondly, why doesn't the government promote other provinces and improve their infrastructure and a better quality if life? By neglecting the other provinces, they practically FORCE many Thais from upcountry provinces to Bangkok just in order to illusion them, they earn more money there and have a better quality in education,…

If everybody is FOECED to come to Bangkok to have a seemingly better life, is it any mystery then, that Bangkok is SH****tloaded with piles of car junk traffic all year long?

With better quality of life investment in other provinces, people wouldn't have to travel all the way to Bangkok, but the government if course turns a blind eye into that matter… as usual.

I recall when they wanted to make the airport link extended to Pattaya......PTP blocked that idea furiously, because they Taxi drivers are their power base and the car manufacturer don't want to sell less cars.

Really? You have any reference?

Why don't they stop the tour buses then?

You don't recall how many people spoke for the extension and the government did not want to do.....

OK, maybe the government simply didn't know that many people from Bangkok and from the airport travel to Pattaya or the the industrial estates which are close.

you can choose what is worse....

Have you provided any evidence/speculation to back this up?