Thailand mulls using artificial rain to reduce haze

CHIANG MAI, February 18 (TNA) - Haze persisted over Thailand’s two northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Lampang for the second consecutive day on Saturday, prompting local authorities to consider using artificial rain to abate particulate dust particles. Authorities in Chiang Mai measured dust particles at 179.16 micrograms per cubic metre at the Provincial Hall and at 162.94 micrograms per cubic metre at Yupparaj Wittayalai School Saturday morning, far exceeding the standard level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre. The dust particles in the same areas in Chiang Mai were measured at 300.52 micrograms per cubic yesterday, hitting a record high. Chiang Mai Governor M.L. Panadda Diskul instructed district chiefs from areas where illegal-forest clearing take place to take decisive actions against the offencers and to urgently contain the problem. Acknowledging that it is proving difficult to control the widespread-haze clouds over the northern region, M.L. Panadda said he will meet with authorities of upper-northern provinces next week to find a joint solution to the haze problem and to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in conducting artificial rain operations in order to reduce the haze, insisting if the situation worsened in the city areas, C-130 transport aircraft would be used to carry out the operation in Chiang Mai skies. Meanwhile, rain in nearby Lampang Province on Friday evening slightly improved the air quality in Maung District Saturday. Chamnong Boonsil, Protected Area Regional Office 13 Lampang Branch, said dust particles at the city shrine in Muang District was measured at 235.33 micrograms per cubic metre this morning, higher than any other areas in the district, as the location situates in an enclosed area near garbage dump and is even surrounded by construction sites. Chamnong insisted that land-and-forest clearing was the cause of low air quality in other areas registered with high particle levels, including in Mae Mo District. (TNA)