CHIANG MAI, March 2 (TNA) - Thailand's mountainous northern region, particularly Chiang Mai, was blanketed with thick smog on Monday from seasonal burning-off fires, with high levels of dust particles reaching health-alert levels across the region.
Chiang Mai's sky was leaden with dense haze, and the city recorded particulate levels of 195 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the safety limit, but authorities had not yet announced it as an air pollution disaster area.
Air pollutants are a hazard to health, especially the respiratory system but also including the eyes and nose.
Lamphun governor Direk Konkleep met concerned provincial agencies to joined forces in preventing forest fires, after more than a thousand rai of provincial forest had been burned this year.
Forest fires have raised the level of smog and dust particles in Lamphun above the safety limit for over two weeks.
The royal Rain-making Operations Centre's upper northern provinces director Somchai Ruangsutthinaruepab said His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had expressed concern over the smog hazard and ordered the 'Beechcraft Super King Air' aircraft normally stationed at the Hua Hin Royal Rainmaking Centre to join rain making operations in the north to reduce the likelihood of forest blazes.
Super King aircraft flying at altitudes of over 20,000 feet can use innovative rainmaking techniques developed by Thailand’s monarch.
His Majesty the King in 1999 developed new technique to increase cloud density at both upper and lower levels simultaneously to increase the amount and extent of rainfall. The royal rainmaking team tried out the new technique and it proved to be a very efficient way of inducing rain. He named the new cloud-seeding technique "Super Sandwich."
Rainmaking operations have begun in Uttaradit and Phrae, Mr. Somchai said, and a plan was drafted for operations in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang and would cover Chiang Rai and Phayao.
It was expected that artificial rain would reduce the level of smog in the affected areas.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suvit Khunkitti was in Chiang Mai to inspect the smog situation in the north and met officials from agencies concerned to determine responses to the smog problem.
The minister said he would also report on the problem to Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 18:06:48 2 March 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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