Cooperation vital to end haze crisis

More than a decade after fine dust particles known as PM2.5 emerged as a health threat in Chiang Mai, the province has started to embrace a new approach that opens the doors to cooperation between state and civic sectors to tackle the problem.

This week, provincial authorities and the civic group sector, spearheaded by prominent environmentalist Dr Rungsrit Kanjanavanit, gathered at a meeting to discuss possible measures to alleviate the plight of local people.

Previously, authorities and civic people were at odds with each other as the latter were frustrated with the lack of decisiveness on the part of the other, who appear only to apply passive measures such as spraying water and distributing face masks.

Chiang Mai governor Supachai Eiamsuwan has vehemently dismissed calls for the designation of the province as a disaster zone out of fear it may tarnish the province's image as a regional tourist attraction.

However, the state-civic group cooperation -- the first of its kind -- is undoubtedly the right start. It needs stringent surveillance by locals to help prevent open burning as well as forest fires, which are a key source of PM2.5 in Chiang Mai, the capital of the North, and also other nearby provinces including Chiang Rai, Phayao and Phrae. State authorities cannot do this alone, but need help from those in the areas.

The March 26 meeting, presided over by the Chiang Mai governor, agreed on short- and long-term solutions.

Initially, it was agreed that Chiang Mai University will serve as a centre where academics are to brainstorm and work on scientific data in a bid to put an end to the chronic problem. While trying to reach a solution, Chiang Mai authorities also set up so-called safe places, fitted with air purifying machines, until the air quality improves, while it is hoped that rainfall, which is expected sometime next week, will help clear away the dust.

As of yesterday, air quality remained critical in several areas. Some areas like San Patong saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to health-hazardous levels. The fire that raged in a wide area of the province's Doi Luang in Chiang Dao district yesterday deepened the crisis.

A multi-disciplinary approach is the key to solving this complicated issue. Studies on weather patterns that affect levels of haze, and measures against open burning on large-scale plantations like corn, must be put in place, while the state must be an instrument to help people in the farm sector have alternatives like soft loans for farm devices that enable farmers to better handle waste and avoid dangerous open burning, for instance.

At the same time, the northern authorities should pay serious attention to a plan to promote mass transport which has unfortunately been missing in city development plans over past decades. The lack of public transportation has forced city people in this province to travel in their own cars.

Such a lifestyle contributes to haze because of Chiang Mai's topography, with a valley landscape surrounded by hills, meaning exhaust fumes from car engines stay around longer. Chiang Mai must ensure its first trams -- construction of which is scheduled to begin next year -- will not be put off.

In between, it's necessary that the state invests in public education in order to encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyles, especially when public transportation becomes an option. This would help alleviate the impact of seasonal haze in the long run.

It is known that air pollution is a trans-boundary issue. Thailand, as Asean chair for 2019, should take the opportunity to work with Asean member countries to seek workable solutions to the man-made air pollution that is linked with cash-crop planting, haze in the country's northern region resulting from corn as well as sugar cane plantation burning, and also in the South caused by the palm oil industry in Indonesia.

During Thailand's chairmanship, haze control should be discussed in a constructive way among concerned members, so that the issue will be tackled more efficiently. Educational institutions in Asean countries should be encouraged to play a role and work together.

Of course, PM2.5 dust will not disappear overnight but state and civic cooperation, as well as a regional approach, may well provide the light at the end of a hazy tunnel.