Chiang Mai sets 60-day total ban on burning in open areas

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, January 21 (TNA) - Thailand's northern resort Chiang Mai Province will impose a 60-day total ban on all forms of burning in open areas from February 15-April 16, 2015, as part of its improved measures, learnt from past lessons, to cope with haze. Chiang Mai Deputy Governor Chana Paengpiboon told journalists of the ban on Wednesday, saying that his province's improved measures to cope with haze also include early burnings in deciduous forest areas of targeted zones being at risk of triggering forest fires and smog. The deputy governor noted that the early burnings in the areas at risk, including three districts of Jom Thong, Hod and Om Koi, which were first operated on January 16 and will be carried out again from January 26-February 8, are aimed to eliminate fuels, like dry leaves, and to reduce any chance of forest fire or to ease its serious impacts. The deputy governor stressed that the operations are closely supervised by local authorities and teams of researchers from Chiang Mai University. Besides, laws are stricter enforced this year, along with offering a cash reward of 5,000 baht for each of those providing tip-offs to Chiang Mai's natural resources and environment office through its phone numbers, 053-112725 or 081-1112439, which are on service around the clock. (TNA)