Bangkok: Northern and Northeastern Thailand are facing severe challenges due to escalating PM2.5 pollution levels, prompting the government to introduce strict measures and allocate additional resources.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Sonthi Kochawat, an expert in environment and health, shared insights on the deteriorating PM2.5 situation during the "Share the News" program on MCOT NEWS FM 100.5. He highlighted that weakening weather conditions, coupled with calm winds at a mere 3 kilometers per hour, are causing stagnant air and preventing dust dispersion. Recent data from GISTDA revealed 3,561 hotspots across provinces such as Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Pathum Thani, Saraburi, and Sa Kaeo. In comparison, neighboring Cambodia recorded 8,127 hotspots. The southerly winds are currently carrying dust from central Thailand towards the north, with the situation expected to peak in severity by mid to late February.
The main driver of this pollution is agricultural burning, especially among rice and corn farmers, as they prepare the soil for the new dry-season rice crop in January and February. Financial limitations and lack of plowing machinery exacerbate the issue. In response, the government has introduced compensation payments of 1,000 baht per rai, up to a maximum of 10 rai per farmer, for those refraining from burning between February 1st and March 31st, 2024, along with an additional allocation of 250 million baht to support these initiatives.
In addition to financial incentives, the government has empowered provincial governors to enforce regulations rigorously. This includes authorizing arrests for violations detected through satellite-based hotspot tracking systems and deploying rapid response units to address incidents swiftly. Looking ahead, efforts are underway to promote a Clean Air Act, aiming to establish a Clean Air Fund. This fund would utilize fines collected from pollution sources to provide support to farmers and hold accountable those financial entities backing agricultural burning practices.