Chiang Rai declares 80 dangerous days to curb haze crisis

CHIANG RAI, 24 January 2013 (NNT) – Chiang Rai provincial authorities are set to toughen measures to avoid the repeat of last year’s man-made haze crisis.

Chiang Rai and other northern provinces recorded the highest level of dust particles last year, exceeding safety standards by a wide margin. Smog severely affects local businesses every year, generally from mid-February to mid-March.

Chiang Rai Governor Pongsak Wangsamer presided over a meeting on haze and other environmental issues on Thursday, attended by over 3,000 administrative officials, civil network members and agriculturists. Mr Pongsak said on the sideline of the meeting that the province plans to declare an ’80 dangerous days’ period during January 21-April 10 of this year. Residents and local farmers will be urged to refrain from burning rice fields and forest land during the period in a bid to prevent fire hazard and air pollution.