Luftverschmutzung im Norden
Verfasst: Mi Mär 14, 2007 10:36 am
Leider gibt es seit ungefaehr 14 Tagen eine sich immer mehr verschaerfende Umweltproblematik im Norden Thailands.Die jaehrlich sich wiederholenden Brandrodungen, Waldbraende und aehnliches.Gestern scheiterte erneut ein Versuch in der Regierung, Massnahmen dagegen verstaerkt zu aktivieren.Die Ursachen sind auch sicherlich nicht nur in Nordthailand zu bekaempfen.Die Verbrennungen geschehen auch in Nordvietnam,Laos und Burma.Hier mal der Link zu einem Artikel in der Nation:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03 ... 029266.php
und der Bericht(in Englisch):
"AIR POLLUTION
Smog crisis in North could linger for weeks
High pressure may keep haze in air till April, but Cabinet refuses to impose emergency moves
Weather experts have warned that the haze blanketing the North could linger until April as harmful dust levels hit the highest level since air quality tests revealed deteriorating conditions two weeks ago.
An abundance of fires lit in rural areas has been largely blamed for the pollution.
The haze is costing Chiang Mai alone up to Bt30 million a day in lost tourist income, the chairman of the northern provinces' chamber of commerce Narong Tana-nuwat said.
Despite the worsening situation, the Cabinet yesterday turned down an Environment Ministry proposal to declare the region an emergency control zone, in a bid to empower authorities to tackle the source of the problem.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said yesterday the Cabinet had been told by the Meteorological Department's northern bureau that the smog could persist until April and that special monitoring may be needed until June.
The Pollution Control Depart-ment (PCD) reported yesterday that the level of dust particles smaller than 10 microns in Chiang Mai's air had reached 284 micrograms per cubic metre. The standard level for these particles in the air is 120 micrograms per cubic metre. Currently, provincial authorities have limited power to tackle the crisis.
Chiang Mai's provincial environment office asked restaurants and street vendors yesterday to temporarily stop using barbecues.
"These businesses share some responsibility for the smoke in the air," department head Phuchong Insomphan explained.
The city's authorities turned on all fountains for 24 hours to increase humidity and today fire trucks are due to spray water into the air in the city centre.
The Environment Ministry proposed that the Cabinet declare the emergency controls to enable provincial governors to ban all forms of combustion.
At present, governors can only ask people to stop burning rubbish, farm waste and clearing scrubland, which are believed to be the major causes of the haze.
If the Cabinet had agreed to the move, it would have been only the second time powers authorised under the 1992 Environmental Protection Act had been used. The first time was almost a decade ago when then premier Chuan Leekpai used the legislation to ban inland shrimp farming on the Central plains.
Spokesman Yongyuth said the Cabinet would only issue emergency pollution controls as a last resort. He said Cabinet asked the Environment Ministry to use other means, such as recommending that farmers reuse their waste rather than burning it.
The Agricultural Ministry was called on to induce artificial rain.
Commanders from the Third Army Region were asked to organise forest patrols to monitor and extinguish fires.
The Health Ministry will set up clinics in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang and Mae Hong Son provinces.
Yongyuth said if the air quality did not improve, the Cabinet would reconsider whether to declare the region an emergency pollution control zone.
This is the second time the Surayud regime has refused to take measures to ease pollution sought by the Environment Ministry. Last month the ministry asked the government declare Map Ta Phut a pollution control zone, due to the high levels of a volatile organic compounds in the air and the apparent high incidence of cancer cases in the area.
Two sub-committees were established to address the situation at Map Ta Phut instead.
Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattana-siritham took a 45-minute helicopter flight to inspect the skies over Chiang Mai and Lamphun yesterday, then described the smog as "unusual". "We need a long term plan to prevent similar problems in future years," he said.
Thaweewat Nilpetcharat, from the weather bureau, said high air pressure had trapped the pollution, which might persist until late next month, when the pressure was likely to fall.
"Even if no more smoke is generated, the problem will not ease rapidly as high pressure still covers the region," he said.
Thousands of residents have reported respiratory problems over the last fortnight. Outdoor activities are prohibited and pregnant women, the elderly and children are advised to wear facemasks, Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkhla has said.
Around 130,000 masks have been distributed and 170,000 more are expected soon.
Most flights to Chiang Mai, Nan, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son have been cancelled due to the poor visibility and Thai Airways yesterday cancelled its flight between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son for the third consecutive day."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03 ... 029266.php
und der Bericht(in Englisch):
"AIR POLLUTION
Smog crisis in North could linger for weeks
High pressure may keep haze in air till April, but Cabinet refuses to impose emergency moves
Weather experts have warned that the haze blanketing the North could linger until April as harmful dust levels hit the highest level since air quality tests revealed deteriorating conditions two weeks ago.
An abundance of fires lit in rural areas has been largely blamed for the pollution.
The haze is costing Chiang Mai alone up to Bt30 million a day in lost tourist income, the chairman of the northern provinces' chamber of commerce Narong Tana-nuwat said.
Despite the worsening situation, the Cabinet yesterday turned down an Environment Ministry proposal to declare the region an emergency control zone, in a bid to empower authorities to tackle the source of the problem.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said yesterday the Cabinet had been told by the Meteorological Department's northern bureau that the smog could persist until April and that special monitoring may be needed until June.
The Pollution Control Depart-ment (PCD) reported yesterday that the level of dust particles smaller than 10 microns in Chiang Mai's air had reached 284 micrograms per cubic metre. The standard level for these particles in the air is 120 micrograms per cubic metre. Currently, provincial authorities have limited power to tackle the crisis.
Chiang Mai's provincial environment office asked restaurants and street vendors yesterday to temporarily stop using barbecues.
"These businesses share some responsibility for the smoke in the air," department head Phuchong Insomphan explained.
The city's authorities turned on all fountains for 24 hours to increase humidity and today fire trucks are due to spray water into the air in the city centre.
The Environment Ministry proposed that the Cabinet declare the emergency controls to enable provincial governors to ban all forms of combustion.
At present, governors can only ask people to stop burning rubbish, farm waste and clearing scrubland, which are believed to be the major causes of the haze.
If the Cabinet had agreed to the move, it would have been only the second time powers authorised under the 1992 Environmental Protection Act had been used. The first time was almost a decade ago when then premier Chuan Leekpai used the legislation to ban inland shrimp farming on the Central plains.
Spokesman Yongyuth said the Cabinet would only issue emergency pollution controls as a last resort. He said Cabinet asked the Environment Ministry to use other means, such as recommending that farmers reuse their waste rather than burning it.
The Agricultural Ministry was called on to induce artificial rain.
Commanders from the Third Army Region were asked to organise forest patrols to monitor and extinguish fires.
The Health Ministry will set up clinics in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang and Mae Hong Son provinces.
Yongyuth said if the air quality did not improve, the Cabinet would reconsider whether to declare the region an emergency pollution control zone.
This is the second time the Surayud regime has refused to take measures to ease pollution sought by the Environment Ministry. Last month the ministry asked the government declare Map Ta Phut a pollution control zone, due to the high levels of a volatile organic compounds in the air and the apparent high incidence of cancer cases in the area.
Two sub-committees were established to address the situation at Map Ta Phut instead.
Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattana-siritham took a 45-minute helicopter flight to inspect the skies over Chiang Mai and Lamphun yesterday, then described the smog as "unusual". "We need a long term plan to prevent similar problems in future years," he said.
Thaweewat Nilpetcharat, from the weather bureau, said high air pressure had trapped the pollution, which might persist until late next month, when the pressure was likely to fall.
"Even if no more smoke is generated, the problem will not ease rapidly as high pressure still covers the region," he said.
Thousands of residents have reported respiratory problems over the last fortnight. Outdoor activities are prohibited and pregnant women, the elderly and children are advised to wear facemasks, Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkhla has said.
Around 130,000 masks have been distributed and 170,000 more are expected soon.
Most flights to Chiang Mai, Nan, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son have been cancelled due to the poor visibility and Thai Airways yesterday cancelled its flight between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son for the third consecutive day."