Panel offers tips on combating pollution

Kunsiri Olarikkachat

Environmental experts called on Bangkok residents to participate more directly in the city's fight against pollution at a round-table discussion held recently by the Bangkok Post.

The experts also agreed that city codes established to make Bangkok a cleaner and greener capital were not being effectively enforced by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), or the police.

Environmental experts said the new Bangkok governor, who will be elected on Aug 29, could hardly win a war against pollution unless the people themselves realised they could make the world a more beautiful place through their own contributions.

``The people can show their love for their country by stopping messing around with nature and changing their behaviours, or tackling pollution will never succeed,'' said Ksemsan Suwarnarat, one of the experts.

Mr Ksemsan, chairman of the Wastewater Management Authority's board of directors, joined five other experts in discussing Bangkok's air pollution, garbage problems, waste water and noise and visual pollution.

The experts suggested that residents give their cars better maintenance to reduce air pollution, sort garbage for recycling and help grow more trees to absorb dust.

As for noise pollution, Somrudee Nicro, director of Thailand Environment Institute's Urbanisation and Environment Programme, said most people seemed unaware that Bangkok was now ``too loud''.

She said noise pollution could cause health problems, including insomnia, stress and high-blood pressure, as well as attention deficit disorder in young children.

``Noise is a problem that people think does not exist,'' Ms Somrudee said.

She said levels of noise pollution measured at all outdoor points in Bangkok exceeded the 70-decibel standard limit.

Ms Somrudee said people could help make Bangkok quieter by using construction materials that could absorb noise, for example.

Mr Ksemsan, who was also a former senior city official, suggested that a law empowering city officials to confiscate sources of noise pollution should be enforced.

He said notifying officials or police about noise disturbance often brought no action because of bureaucratic red-tape, which allowed noise polluters to continue with impunity.

But he said officials never resorted to the city law that allowed them to confiscate sources of noise, the most direct and effect measure against noise pollution.

Mr Ksemsan blamed the police for lax pollution controls.

Instead of catching drivers whose cars emitted black smoke, the police opted to wear masks.

``Tackling problems at the root cause is the thing our officials do not do, and do not know how to do. They forget they have arresting power,'' Mr Ksemsan said.

Ms Somrudee said suggestions that the city administration have its own police unit should be seriously considered.

Since the police could not be of much assistance in controlling pollution, the new city governor should also look to obtain help from other sources, Mr Ksemsan said.

In dealing with garbage, saleng or scavengers who collect and buy rubbish that could be recycled, could work in partnership with the new governor, he said.

Mr Ksemsan said BMA might register them and send them to pick up garbage around the city.

``If people do not have money, it does not mean they are useless. They can contribute for this country as well,'' he said.