In response to Thailand's growing air pollution crisis, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to take comprehensive measures to address this serious situation.
According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), alarming levels of PM2,5 particles were reported in Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon this week. PM2,5 particles are particles with a diameter of less than 2,5 micrometers, which can be particularly harmful to health.
On Tuesday, January 16, air pollution in Samut Songkhram reached a level of 90,3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), which is significantly higher than the safe limit of 37,5 µg/m3. A slightly lower but still dangerous level of 75,8 µg/m3 was measured in Samut Sakhon.
The crisis extends to eighteen provinces across the country, with moderate to high pollution levels. Ratchaburi is currently the hardest hit and is in the “orange” zone with a PM2,5 level of 67,6 µg/m3. In Bangkok, Nong Khaem district reported the highest pollution level at 58,6 µg/m3.
Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul, the commander-in-chief of the RTAF, confirmed the order. The Air Force's plan includes the use of water-dumping aircraft and cooperation with various organizations for the prevention and control of forest fires. The RTAF will use the Basler BT-67 aircraft for these fire prevention and water dumping missions.
The Air Force also plans to purchase four additional water containers for its fleet of water dumping aircraft. There are also plans to improve capabilities with a weather radar system, which will help better predict and tackle forest fires, a major cause of air pollution.
Better tackle the perpetrator!!
Sort of like window dressing. That's a Thai specialty. Are they very good at… Then business as usual.
You would think so, but who should tackle the perpetrator? This entire situation is exacerbated by the national agricultural policy that has historically promoted the expansion of industries such as sugarcane and rice. The government is part of the problem through interests and entanglements with the agricultural sector and industry. It now concerns other interests, namely preventing tourism from declining. The whole of Thailand is struggling with air pollution and the real burning season has not yet started. If Thailand becomes known worldwide via social media that it cannot guarantee healthy air, this could well happen. That is why many plans are and have been announced verbally, but their implementation stagnates or proves impossible. https://www.thaienquirer.com/51548/will-sretthas-administration-have-the-political-will-to-stop-smog-problem/
how about flying less?
Saves the environment, costs and noise pollution.
In Udon the roar of army jets hits every week.
As long as the local authorities, including the police, accept bribes from local farmers, who would like to have their fields burned clean again after the harvest of corn and sugar, among other things, has been harvested.
Then that damned air pollution will never come to an end and don't keep talking about forest fires, because the local forests that will also burn due to these fires ultimately have nothing to do with the real problem.
Perhaps introducing mandatory inspection of cars and taking old cars off the road would also help, I think
This mandatory inspection already exists, but as with almost everything in Thailand, the existing requirements are not enforced.