Outdoor burning ban announced as air quality worsens in Thailand

[webfact]

Outdoor burning ban announced as air quality worsens

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has asked all provinces to ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January, while the air quality index in Bangkok has reached the code-red unhealthy level in several areas.

 

The Pollution Control Department’s Director General Athapol Charoenchansa, confirmed the amount of PM 2.5 airborne particulate matter had reached the red unhealthy level in five precincts of the Bangkok metropolitan area.

 

The unhealthy air quality readings were recorded today by air quality sensors near Kanchanaphisek road in Bang Khun Thian district; in Khlong Sam Wa district; by Phet Kasem 81 or Ma Charoen road in Nong Khaem district; in Bang Sao Thong subdistrict of Samut Prakan, and Mahachai subdistrict of Samut Sakhon.

 

The Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has coordinated with all provinces to prevent outdoor burning activities on 20-23 January to reduce smoke emissions, as the low pressure system prevailing over Thailand at this time promotes the accumulation of airborne dust.

 

The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Varawut Silpa-archa said today the air quality crisis in Bangkok is not the result of the accumulation of PM 2.5 particles alone, but PM 10 and smoke from burning activities as well.

 

He has advised the general public to wear a mask at all times to protect themselves from the pollution and help with COVID-19 prevention, and to avoid going outdoors until the situation improves.

 

Schools, many of which are still closed due to the new wave of COVID-19 cases, may consider postponing their reopening date should the air quality remain poor, while farmers are encouraged to use their farm waste as fuel or sell it instead of burning it off, in an effort to reduce smoke emissions from burning.

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-01-22

 

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[Curt1591]

Caught the strong smell of burning plastic on my ride to the market today ...

[YetAnother]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January

since it is now the 22nd of Jan , i am sure that extra day will make a BIG difference

[toofarnorth]

Let me get this right.  No burning 'til after tomorrow the 23rd ?  What about March and April when the mountains around here are alight ? Hospital opposite us , 30th March 2020.

[edwinchester]

Kanchanaburi Province has had appalling air quality for weeks as the burning season is in full swing. Our local Phu Yai makes the occasional announcement to cease the crop burning but nobody takes a blind bit of notice and the Royal Thai Police appear to be totally blind as they fail to see the grey plumes of smoke from stubble burning, the black plumes of sugar cane ash or the orange glow all over from nocturnal fires. We've complained numerous times but are always met with 'very difficult, not easy to catch'.

[Tarteso]

Chiang Mai NOW

[trainman34014]

Lip Service and Pissing in the wind.   Whatever ban they use and whenever they announce it; it will be ignored as always.   Until they find some balls and start jailing the big offenders nothing will change.

[WineOh]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has asked all provinces to ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January,

from the 23rd onwards go nuts folks.

Hell why not sling a few of uncles old rubber tires on the fire for good measure! 

 

It's these kinds of idiotic comments and policies that keep this country from actually getting things done & moving forward.

Edited January 22, 2021 by Liverpoolfan

[colinneil]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

has asked all provinces to ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January, 

How bloody pathetic, asked for a burning ban until the 23rd, hello you dopey sods thats tomorrow.????????????????????

[trainman34014]

5 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Chiang Mai NOW

In Chiang Mai we are all treated as Human Cannon Fodder and Expendable Beings; they see Bangkok as the Centre of the Universe but still can't control it there and if they can't be bothered to stop poisoning their own families then there is no hope for Chiang Mai.

[foreverlomsak]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has asked all provinces to ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January,

By the time it is transmitted down the chain of command it will be too late we will have missed not only today but tomorrow (23rd) as well.

[thequietman]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has asked all provinces to ban outdoor burning from now until 23rd January

Wow ! A whole day - That should make a real difference - NOT. ????

[Ron jeremy]

What’s the big deal? Stay indoors for the next 3-4 months, turn on the filters, wear a mask and enjoy paradise ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

LOS land of smog 

[thequietman]

4 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

It's these kind of short sighted comments and policies that keep this country from actually getting things done & moving forward.

And that's how they likes it. ????

[KC 71]

12 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Chiang Mai NOW

Similar Here in Chiangrai

[CharlieH]

Say what they like as per most things here its NEVER ENFORCED !

 

There is little to no real consequences for any actions by enforcement if and when enforcement ever happens.

 

If burning crops, confiscate the land, see how quick they get the message then.

[CraigInBangkok]

28 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

Caught the strong smell of burning plastic on my ride to the market today ...

Yep .. I get this most evenings when I go to pick the wife up from work. Quite amazing really, its 2021 and even in Bangers they are still burning plastic 

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, colinneil said:

How bloody pathetic, asked for a burning ban until the 23rd, hello you dopey sods thats tomorrow.????????????????????

Yeah, but 24 hours is a long time in politics.

[Toany]

They burn the sugar cane so that they can harvest it easily by hand.  They were burning last night.  Maybe nobody told them.  The sugar cane factories have a set limit of 20% burnt sugar cane.  Although I doubt that this is enforced.

[madmitch]

Why is it that the Government and provincial governors are so quick to take decisive, often over the top actions in their efforts to stop the spread of Covid yet are so reluctant and slow to deal with the lung-threatening burning that occurs year after year?

 

Stop burning for three days, then start again? Pathetic!

[Toany]

The government has given the factories the OK to process 20% burnt sugar can. 

[toofarnorth]

8 minutes ago, KC 71 said:

Similar Here in Chiangrai

There yer go. Mae Chan in the middle , see the pic of the hospital last year above.

[GeorgeCross]

13 minutes ago, Ron jeremy said:

What’s the big deal? Stay indoors for the next 3-4 months, turn on the filters, wear a mask and enjoy paradise ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

LOS land of smog 

 

yeah, everybody's so negative ????

[mr mr]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Outdoor burning ban announced

 

aaaaaand  totally ignored. 

[spidermike007]

This is not a seasonal inconvenience. This is a national emergency, and is getting worse each season. This administration has shown time and again, that they are not the slightest bit serious about the ban on burning. How many sugar cane farmers are being arrested, or facing significant fines for burning. They do it openly, with no fear of repercussions, all the while they are literally tearing down the quality of life for millions, nationwide. Callous, unwilling to do what is right for the people, taking short cuts, and unwilling to put in the hard work of clearing the fields. 

 

Here are my suggestions, if these incompetents want to be taken seriously. 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.
2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.
3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land.
The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century.

Then they can move on to tackle the sale of diesel vehicles, and the government's enthusiastic support of such. It is inane in this day and age. Most nations are moving away from diesel for good reasons. When they are not well maintained, they foul the air, with large, nasty particles. And who properly maintains their vehicle here?

Edited January 22, 2021 by spidermike007

[mr mr]

12 minutes ago, CraigInBangkok said:

Yep .. I get this most evenings when I go to pick the wife up from work. Quite amazing really, its 2021 and even in Bangers they are still burning plastic 

 

snap you don't want to know what they are doing on this side of the tracks then. past 8 mile. 

[Antonymous]

Pathetic three day ban.

 

Here in the countryside 40km north of Chiang Mai right now the PM 2.5 is 76. High for this time of year. Been under 50 most days.

[Antonymous]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is not a seasonal inconvenience. This is a national emergency, and is getting worse each season. This administration has shown time and again, that they are not the slightest bit serious about the ban on burning. How many sugar cane farmers are being arrested, or facing significant fines for burning. They do it openly, with no fear of repercussions, all the while they are literally tearing down the quality of life for millions, nationwide. Callous, unwilling to do what is right for the people, taking short cuts, and unwilling to put in the hard work of clearing the fields. 

 

Here are my suggestions, if these incompetents want to be taken seriously. 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.
2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.
3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land.
The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century.

Then they can move on to tackle the sale of diesel vehicles, and the government's enthusiastic support of such. It is inane in this day and age. Most nations are moving away from diesel for good reasons. When they are not well maintained, they foul the air, with large, nasty particles. And who properly maintains their vehicle here?

 

I'm with you, really I am. If only things were so simple.

 

Notwithstanding the effects of air pollution from neighbouring countries, which is severe in itself and seems to be beyond the influence of Thailand, there are also real considerations from the farmers' points of view that have to be taken into account. There are ways to get around this, but it is not so easy. I recommend to everyone that it is worth reading up on what it means to the farmers to stop burning. Regarding sugar cane particularly, the article below explains this well:

 

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/thailand-sugarcane-burning/

[orchis]

Lamphun. On and off since Dec 23 already. Last year ended in May.

Edited January 22, 2021 by orchis

[Phuketshrew]

Clear, blue skies and a lovely sea breeze here in Phuket. ????