Chiang Mai Authorities Investigating 40 Tonnes of 'Fake Snow'
By Khaosod English


Nimman Snow Festival at Eastin Tan hotel on Nimman Hemin Road, 22 December 2014.

CHIANG MAI - Officials in Chiang Mai are investigating whether the 40 tonnes of refined salt that was used as imitate snow at a PR stunt will lead to an environmental meltdown in the region.

The massive pile of salt was a part of 'Nimman Snow Festival' at Eastin Tan hotel on Nimman Hemin Road, which runs from 20 December to 4 January. Green tea and restaurant tycoon Tan Passakornnatee organised the event and made an appearance at the festival site over the weekend.

However, some residents in Chiang Mai province started to raise concern over safety and environment impact of the fake snow, especially when it emerged that a good number of the refined salt drifted to the nearby roads, drains, and trees.

Officials from the Ministry of Public Health and local administrative organisations arrived at the event site yesterday and took samples of the refined salt. State employees also inspected the drains and water source in the area around the hotel's Think Park for any possible contamination or blockage.

Jongklai Worapongsathorn, director of Chiang Mai's provincial office of the Ministry of National Resource and Environment, told reporters that Tan did not notify or seek permission from any relevant agency before he launched the "snow festival." He said it is too early to say if the 40 tonnes of refined salt has damaged the city's environment.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1419329213


-- Khaosod English 2014-12-23

"... the hotel's Think Park..."

Wait till it rains , then have big problem

Dump into the river Man Ping to make salted fish and fish sauces.

when I first read the headline I thought there had been a massive cocaine haul bust. How terribly disappointing.

This guy, is a real chancer. Thinks because he is rich. He can do anything. Ohishi thats him!

Well it has put the bad air due to fires on the back burner..

Unfortunately I can't see this guy being made to be responsible for this act of environmental sabotage

OMG!!

Sounds like Jealousy is alive and well in Chiang Mai. The stuff is "Refined Salt" and the Nay-sayers should have seen the smiles on the faces of thousands of people who've already enjoyed the display.

Congratulations to Khun Tan Passakornnatee and his staff for creating "Something Special" for the people of Chiang Mai. We loved it and we love his new hotel, "Eastin Tan" we found the hotel, the staff and facilities all EXCELLENT!

OMG!!

Sounds like Jealousy is alive and well in Chiang Mai. The stuff is "Refined Salt" and the Nay-sayers should have seen the smiles on the faces of thousands of people who've already enjoyed the display.

Congratulations to Khun Tan Passakornnatee and his staff for creating "Something Special" for the people of Chiang Mai. We loved it and we love his new hotel, "Eastin Tan" we found the hotel, the staff and facilities all EXCELLENT!

Do you know what "refined" salt is? Apparently not

He should have used polystyrene

(sarcasm.........)

You make "fake snow" from sodium polyacrylate, not sodium chloride.

Same same, but different!

What in idiotic thing to do. If a significant amount of that salt gets into the soil it will kill anything that grows there and will prevent any growth for decades to come.

Unfortunately I can't see this guy being made to be responsible for this act of environmental sabotage

"He said it is too early to say if the 40 tonnes of refined salt has damaged the city's environment."

so probably the charges will be watered down too....

Sometimes certain idiots should pay attention to other things too not only how much money they can make.

Oishi, huh?

Acting without thinking - Typical Thai trait.

Doesn't this moron understand the effects of salt on bushes, flowers and trees?

"It's got electrolytes. They're good for you."

OMG!!

Sounds like Jealousy is alive and well in Chiang Mai. The stuff is "Refined Salt" and the Nay-sayers should have seen the smiles on the faces of thousands of people who've already enjoyed the display.

Congratulations to Khun Tan Passakornnatee and his staff for creating "Something Special" for the people of Chiang Mai. We loved it and we love his new hotel, "Eastin Tan" we found the hotel, the staff and facilities all EXCELLENT!

Sodium chloride (salt) is poisonous to plants and corrosive to infrastructure. Well, as long as it's "refined" that makes it okay. And eating arsenic is okay, too, I guess, as long as it's "refined."

Just need some Grapefruit and Vodka..(I think), make some salty dogs. (add the soi dogs)

They can have some of ours for free ! -far too cold here out of LOS !

....are they planning on reusing it......

.surely.....something.....or someone....convinced him that this was 'sheer genius'.........

Wow

He should have used polystyrene

(sarcasm.........)

Dictionary for Christmas

Increasing the salinity of soil is harmful to plants but you would need a lot and it needs to leach into the soil rather than just be washed away down the drains. Think of all the rock salt that is dumped on to roads in European winters.

The real danger to agriculture is from inland saltwater shrimp farming which is now mostly banned.

I think the present administration should use it to rub into the wounds of those opposed to the PM...

I will be staying away from Nimmenhamin Rd for a few weeks as i have seen what road salt can do to a car in the UK

Make sure you don't eat the yellow snow

Increasing the salinity of soil is harmful to plants but you would need a lot and it needs to leach into the soil rather than just be washed away down the drains. Think of all the rock salt that is dumped on to roads in European winters.

The real danger to agriculture is from inland saltwater shrimp farming which is now mostly banned.

40 Tons is a lot of salt in one little area..............maybe he plans to bag it back up and sell it to Europe or some other snowy country.

Salt? I'll bring my moose along then...

When you consider what gets flushed into rivers etc here in Thailand, then a bit of salt which was put onto artificial grass is quiet insignificant, IMO.