Haze casts show over northern Thailand
CHIANG MAI: One of Thailand’s major tourism regions is in crisis as haze from man-made fires produces choking pollution levels.
Thailand sent its Air Force jets into the air this week to bombard clouds in the hope of producing rains to clear away thick smoke caused by forest fires and rice stubble burning in rural areas.
Thailand’s far north has not seen rain since November and environmentalists are predicting the haze could last until April.
The haze is costing Chiang Mai million of baht a day a day in lost tourist income, say local businessmen.
Chiang Mai’s provincial environment office has asked restaurants and street vendors to stop using barbecues, and the city’s authorities this week turned on all fountains for 24 hours to increase humidity. Fire trucks have been spraying water into the air in the city centre.
Flights around the region have been cancelled due to the poor visibility.
The Nation newspaper this week called on the government to declare the area an emergency pollution-control zone.
“By declaring the area a danger zone, the government will be able to impose stronger control measures – including a strict ban on burning and boosting fire-fighting capabilities – to combat the worsening air pollution that is seriously affecting people’s health and damaging the tourism industry,” said The Nation.
Ian Jarrett
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