Chiang Mai plans to attack the upcoming annual pollution crisis by reducing hotspots this year by 50% and having above average PM 2.5 levels for only 49 days this year.
Chiang Mai province has announced that it will be managing the fire and pollution situation this year with greater strictness in order to reduce harm to the general public.
Instead of a total ban on burning, burning will be allowed only if permission is sought and granted through the FireD system. This system will enter the request into each district’s database, at least three days prior to burning, after which permission will either be granted or denied.
Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn revealed this new system which now is overseen not just by government authorities, but by many members of the private sector as well. There are seven main areas which will each have a functioning system to oversee them all in kuldip Om Koi, Mae Chaem, Kalyaniwattana, Inthanon-Chom Thong-Hod, Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai city, Hang Dong-Mae Wang-Samoeng, Sansai-Doi Saket-Mae On, Sri Lanna National Park-Phramongkutklao- Mae Tae4ng and an extra area which is the city-facing sections of Doi Suthep-Pui, the face of Chiang Mai and an important ecosystem unto it self.
Anyone wishing to burn must register with the FireD app and there will be authorities and researchers visiting their area to see the appropriateness of the request as well as to study the potential impact socially, environmentally and regarding heath.
As to this plan to reduce hotspots by 50%, which will mean that there can be no more than 6,547 hotspots across the burning period in Chiang Mai province, that no more than 584,312 rai will be burned, that PM2.5 levels do not exceed acceptable norms for more than 49 days and that there are no more than 17,290 people who must seek medical help due to respiratory related problems.
Governor Nirat met with all 25 district heads last week to insist upon them how important this is and that they must make this a priority over the moving months.
Each district head has been tasked with communicating with their communities, thinking outside the box, understanding the impact of the annual pollution problem and finding anyway they can to combat this problem.
