Air pollution problems move to Khon Kaen
Pollution continues to choke the north-east province of Khon Kaen with the Air Quality Index reaching 187 yesterday, well beyond the “moderate” safety limit of 100.
This morning it’s reading at 174.
Associate Professor Dr Kittichai Triratanasirichai, a former president of Khon Kaen University, says the pollution in Khon Kaen had worsened mainly due to the burning of sugarcane and rice stubble, and from exhaust fumes.
“If you look from a plane, you will clearly see smoke from sugarcane plantations,” he said, adding that farmers preferred to burn the sugarcane stubble because it was the most convenient way to clear the fields, but this aggravated the smog.
“Exhaust fumes are also a big problem. The amount of dust in the air increases considerably during rush hour,” he noted.
Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul yesterday called an urgent meeting to seek solutions and called on residents to refrain from lighting outdoor fires, especially when it comes to disposing agricultural waste before harvesting the crop. He also urged people to spray water in front of their homes.
Somsak insisted that provincial authorities had been strict about large construction projects and vehicle emissions, adding that agencies were also regularly spraying water to bring down dust particles in at-risk areas.
SOURCE: The Nation
