Thailand to host regional haze pollution

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) – Thailand will host the meeting to tackle transboundary haze pollution with environmental ministers from five ASEAN member countries. The Pollution Control Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will organize the meeting in Bangkok between May 31 to June 1. Ministers and representatives from five countries – Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will attend the meeting to discuss policies and solution to address transboundary haze pollution in lower Asean region. Pollution Control Department director-general Sunee Piyapanpong said that the meeting is the preparation to fight the haze problem, normally happening from June to September every year and it affects people’s health, businesses and tourism. The meeting will be a platform for exchange of knowledge and effective management to alleviate the impacts from haze pollution. She said ten ASEAN countries agreed to reduce hotspots in forest areas and farmlands to 50,000 spots in 2020 and establish cooperation to support member countries in technology and manpower if severe haze events occur. At the upcoming meeting, the director-general said Thailand will propose preventive measures, implemented in the North of Thailand, which can help reduce forest fire by 40 per cent from last year. (TNA)