Haze Situation in Northern Thailand

(16/03/2012)

The haze situation in northern Thailand is improving. Even so, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has told governors of nine haze-hit provinces not to be complacent but to arrange surveillance units to deal with the problem. In a video conference, the Prime Minister urged the governors of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Tak to follow up the haze situation closely. Concerned about the problem, she said, the Government had instructed the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to launch more rainmaking operations to reduce the severity of forest fires and haze pollution in the North. The Department was upgraded from the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, which was set up at the initiative of His Majesty the King. Prime Minister Yingluck said that the Department had played an important role in easing the haze situation. She said that, generally, the situation in the haze-hit provinces was improving, except in Mae Hong Son, where the level of dust particles in the air was still high. His Majesty the King assigned the Northern Royal Rainmaking Center in Chiang Mai to conduct rainmaking in Mae Hong Son. The situation in Mae Hong Son is expected to gradually improve soon. The Government has also launched a “No Burn” campaign to encourage local people not to burn in forested areas. Joining the campaign were volunteers from educational institutions. Stricter law enforcement has also been applied by prohibiting burning in forested areas. Violators will be fined up to 150,000 baht and subject to a jail term of up to 15 years. The smoke haze and bushfire problem usually arises from January to April each year. It is caused by all kinds of burning in various communities, as well as the slash-and-burn farming technique employed by farmers. The Government has suggested local people to shift from slash-and-burn farming by planting perennial trees, such as rubber, coffee, and various fruit trees. Prime Minister Yingluck assigned Minister of Science and Technology Plodprasop Suraswadi and governors of the nine provinces to select representatives of the people in each province to help ease the problem and provide the people with advice to stop the problem. Provincial public health offices were also told to take special care of older persons, children, and pregnant women. Dust and smoke particles from forest fires cause health hazards, particularly respiratory illness. Haze pollution also takes place in neighboring countries. In bringing the problem fully under control, the Prime Minister instructed Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to coordinate with neighboring countries to ease the problem. Laos and Myanmar have given good cooperation and sent reports of their management in controlling the haze situation.