BANGKOK (NNT) – Parents bringing their children to attend National Children’s Day activities could be concerned about PM 2.5 airborne dust in Bangkok and outlying areas, prompting authorities to take action to prevent and contain it.
Pollution Control Department Director General Pralong Damrongthai, said today the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has issued a warning on the airborne dust situation, coordinated with relevant agencies and stepped up measures to prevent the particulate matter spreading from its sources on January 10 and January 11, 2020.
The Traffic Police Division has stepped up measures to check vehicles for black smoke emissions which might pollute the air. Seventeen road checkpoints have been set up to check cars and pickups for black smoke. Traffic police attached to Talingchan police station, Thamma Sala police station and Khun Khanan Loyfa police station have also been instructed to keep cargo trucks from entering Bangkok during specified periods.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has had all 50 of its districts prohibit people from burning anything in the open air, and has taken steps to contain and reduce airborne dust from sites connected with the construction of electric trainlines and other activities.
The Department of Land Transport has authorized 16 inspection teams to strictly check heavy-duty trucks and buses for black smoke and called on transport operators not to run cargo trucks in Bangkok’s inner areas, except for the transportation of essential goods such as fresh food.
The Department of Industrial Works has taken measures to strictly contain air pollution released from factories in Bangkok’s outlying areas and to reduce their production capacity in critical PM 2.5 airborne dust situations.
Viewers may follow the air quality situation in real time on the air4thai.com; Application Air4Thai and http://bangkokairquality.com
