Thai and Burmese authority to combat with smoke problem

Thursday, 18 February 2010 15:09 Usa Pichai

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - This year Northern Thailand and parts of neighboring Burma are again suffering from a smoke filled haze caused by the burning of forest and agricultural waste. Sumeth Saengnimnual, governor of Chiang Rai which borders the Burmese Tachilek Township met Wednesday with Burmese officials to discuss several topics including the smoke problem which usually occurs during the dry season. Governor Sumeth said that the Burmese authorities agreed to cooperate with Thai officials to combat pollution.

However this cooperation is limited, Govenor Sumeth told reporters that other than banning the burning of garbage after 5pm Burmese authorities have to wait for permission from central government authorities to impose other measures. Meanwhile the smoke has become so bad in Tachilek that flights have been delayed from leaving Tachilek airport due to poor visibility.

Governor Sumeth told reporters that “Chiang Rai has asked local villagers not to burn forest and straw in their plantation particularly from 20 -30 February 18, 2010, those who do burn will be charged”.

In Chiang Mai, Wichai Kijmee, the chairman of committee to solve forest fires and smoke problems of Chiang Mai said that the smoke problem is expected to be worse this year because of the dry weather and an increase in agricultural waste from corn and straw farms.

“More smoke has been found in Chiang Mai in recent weeks not only from provinces nearby but also from our Burmese neighboring. Chiang Mai is in a valley shaped like a wok which makes air-ventilation difficult,” he said.

Several years ago the Thai government established a national center to coordinate efforts to decrease smoke pollution in northern Thailand. The center cooperates with neighboring countries to fight the smoke, however this year despite the increased international cooperation smoke levels are dangerously high.

In Chiang Rai, the governor said measurements of air pollution in the northern provinces found dust particles smaller than 10 microns at 100.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is close to what is considered the dangerous level. The public health standard is a maximum 120 micrograms per cubic meter.

In 2008, Chiang Rai and other districts in the northern provinces were declared disaster zones because of the choking smoke which plagued Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun. Theses areas have again been severely affected over the past few weeks and many residents have gone to hospitals with breathing problems and other smoke related illnesses.