Thai Interior Ministry expedites urgent solution to wildfire problem

[webfact]

Interior Ministry expedites urgent solution to wildfire problem

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Krissada Boonyarat has disclosed that the Interior Ministry has instructed all Northern and Northeastern provinces to accelerate forest fires and haze mitigation efforts, since the situation is getting critical especially in the provinces of Lampang, Chiang Mai and Lamphun.

The PM10 value recorded in the three critical provinces has been recorded at levels exceeding 120 micrograms per cubic meter, affecting the public's health and visibility.

To prepare and prevent forest fire and haze in the most vulnerable provinces, the local chief district officers have been instructed to prevent and contain forest fires and haze in a proactive and ''civil state" manner, integrating public efforts in both the community and agricultural areas to stop the unnecessarily burning of forests or agricultural materials.


-- NNT 2016-02-15

[15Peter20]

In other words, welcome to the smokey season.

[NongKhaiKid]

How can prevention and enforcement be carried out as, funny thing, no one ever seems to know who is responsible.

[SoilSpoil]

The best thing to do is to introduce a burn-tax. If you're land is on fire, you'll pay per rai. Within months this idiocracy will stop.

[New beginnings]

It's going to be interesting to see how the rescheduled Chiang Mai International Balloon Festival from December to 4th March goes. May I suggest a game of spot the balloon could be fun with the winner getting a face mask.

[clockman]

One thing they are good at, is talk. But every problem in Thailand. Comes down to same thing Patronage, and the slander and libel laws. Remove these bastions. And the country would forward!

[alant]

Who is this guy " Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Krissada Boonyarat" ? Is he army? can he not use the army to deter the burning and or put out the fires?

[bluebluewater]

It's sorted now! "You 'ol boys get to work up there."

[worgeordie]

Its not like this pollution problem is unforeseen,it occurs every year,

so now the Interior ministry are taking urgent measures,AFTER it

all ready started,at the moment Doi Suthep is hidden behind a

cloud of pollution.

The farmers get the blame for this but I think,the increased traffic,

and villagers burning the forest undergrowth,to facilitate to collection

of mushrooms,when the rainy season starts,are all part of the problem,

which is not getting solved.

The farmers in the U.K. used to burn off their stubble in the fields,the

Government made it illegal to do so,and with law enforcement it STOPPED.

and that is the problem in Thailand ,the laws are not enforced.

So this year it seems to have started earlier than usual,and I predict it will

be a lot worse this year,with a lot lower rainfall last year the forests must

extremely dry.What will the Government do ??????

Regards Worgeordie

[billd766]

The best thing to do is to introduce a burn-tax. If you're land is on fire, you'll pay per rai. Within months this idiocracy will stop.

I live on the edge of the Mae Wong national park in rural Khampaeng Phet.

Last night part of it caught fire and burned all night and this morning. At lunch time my next door neighbours land was burning in places as was the resort next door but one.

Do you think that they should have to pay for that?

It took 4 of us over an hour to beat the flames out. We would have used water hoses on the fires but there has been no government water supply for over 2 months.

[HomeinThailand]

I was up north last weekend. It was really bad. Farmers don't care and light anything on fire and let it go. Only when it gets close to where they live do they start to panic, sometimes its to late.

[ratcatcher]

Who is this guy " Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Krissada Boonyarat" ? Is he army? can he not use the army to deter the burning and or put out the fires?

No, but he could call on the RTAF for a napalm strike, that might help.