Bangkok, "Pacharawat" orders the Permanent Secretary of the Royal Thai Army to follow up on preventing and solving the PM 2.5 dust problem in the northern region during Songkran. Especially Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son provinces, emphasizing the Pollution Control Department to find the cause of the heat spots. along with monitoring the cross-border smog situation Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Monitoring the PM2.5 dust situation and operations to solve the PM2.5 dust problem at the Air Pollution Solutions Communication Center (AEC), led by Pol. Gen. Patcharawat, concerned about air quality in the northern region. Especially Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces. He ordered Mr. Chatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to travel to the northern region to follow up on prevention and resolution of the PM2.5 dust problem during Songkran. Today we had a meeting via ZOOM with Mr. Chucheep Ph ongchai, Governor of Mae Hong Son Province, and Mr. Tossapon Phuenudom, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province. Ms. Preeyaporn Suwannakes, Director-General of the Pollution Control Department Report on the dust situation today in Chiang Mai Province. and Mae Hong Son Province found improvements, the number of hot spots and burning areas decreased. But there are concerns about cross-border smog, with both provinces working in strict accordance with government policy. By elevating operations to level 2 according to emergency measures. that the Air Pollution Management Committee for Sustainability has agreed to include the declaration of areas affected by disasters, fires, forest fires, integration of aircraft, budgets, personnel from ministries, provinces, and localities in forest fire prevention, announcements of Work from Home, strict measurement of black smoke. Strict inspection of industrial factories Arrange a medical team to care for vulnerable and at-risk groups. Distribute face masks As well as creatin g a dust-free room and Safe Zone area. But the forecast of the PM2.5 dust situation in the next 7 days between 15 - 21 April 2024 found that 17 northern provinces are likely to increase from 15 -18 April 2024 and still need to be monitored in some areas. The Northeastern region is likely to increase from 15 - 21 April 2024 and still needs to be monitored in some areas. As for the Bangkok and surrounding areas, it is likely to decrease from 15 -18 April 2024 and still needs to be monitored in some areas. area while the eastern region continues to be good Police General Patcharawat said that although the number of hot spots in 17 northern provinces has decreased, But the goal has not yet been achieved. Therefore, we request Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces. Investigate further to determine the cause of any persisting hot spots and expedite resolution of the problem. As well as asking all agencies under the supervision of the governors of both provinces Let's work together to solve the problems of forest fires and smog with full force. and gave encouragement to all officials working in the area As for the cross-border smog problem, The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held discussions with representatives from Cambodia. To coordinate cooperation to solve the cross-border smog problem that occurs during December-April every year. By the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Want to coordinate closely with Cambodia To jointly prevent and solve the cross-border smog problem. With awareness of taking care of and reducing the impact on the health of people in both countries In the discussion, it was agreed to coordinate via Hotline between the two countries at 2 levels: ministry level and department level. Including joining the joint action plan under Cambodia's Clear Sky Strategy. and the preparation of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for additional environmental cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia. In addition, training on air quality management is sche duled for Cambodian officials at the end of April in Thailand. There will be a meeting of the working group to prevent and solve the cross-border haze problem between Thailand and Cambodia at the same time. For cooperation with the Lao People's Democratic Republic to reduce cross-border heat spots and smog, At the beginning of last April Director-General of the Pollution Control Department chaired a meeting on a collaborative project to reduce cross-border heat spots and smog. between Thailand and Laos (Kick off Workshop Thai-Lao PDR Cooperation: Hotspot and Transboundary Haze Pollution Reduction) in Vientiane Capital Thailand has sent a team of experts from the Pollution Control Department. Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and the Highland Research and Development Institute Come transfer knowledge and exchange experiences. to government agencies from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Ministry of Foreign Affairs Including the govern or and officials of Huai Xai, Ton Phueng, and Pak Tha, Bo Kaeo and Chai Buri provinces, Lao PDR, totaling more than 70 people, in preparing measures and targeted problem-solving policies. Aimed to be effective in areas with repeated burning in forests, agricultural areas, and air pollution caused by activities in urban areas. Including an emphasis on public communication. that must be modern, continuous, fast, up to date with the situation to achieve maximum efficiency hoping for cooperation between each other This will prevent the cause of open burning from agricultural waste from upstream. In order to prevent smog across the border and reduce dust problems in both Thailand and Lao PDR sustainably The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mae Hong Son Province this afternoon reached 161 US AQI. The main pollutant is PM2.5 dust, which has a concentration 14.9 times the World Health Organization's annual air quality guideline value. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Chiang Mai this afternoon reached 158 US AQI. The main p ollutant is PM2.5 dust, which has a concentration 13.7 times the World Health Organization's annual air quality guideline value. The iqair.com website ranks the most polluted major cities. As of 2:47 p.m. today, Chiang Mai was the third most polluted major city, behind the No. 1 city of Delhi in India and No. 2 Dhaka in Bangladesh. Source: Thai News Agency