Once again, Bangkok is blanketed with PM2.5 dust after a short reprieve.
The fresh haze attack, which began on Tuesday, is not much of a surprise. Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Monday warned of it beforehand as he emerged from a meeting where he discussed air pollution with city officials. The fact is that more than a month after dangerous PM2.5 levels hit the city, the governor and his BMA team have still not put into place proactive measures to deal with the crisis, except for shooting water in the air, which is a perfect PR stunt, but doubtful in its effectiveness.
Ploenpote Atthakor is editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.
The governor, who has been authorised to declare Bangkok a pollution control zone, ordered city officials to again increase water firing, while other agencies set up checkpoints to catch black smoke-belching vehicles. But dust levels remain high.
In fact, Pol Gen Aswin told city officials during the same meeting that nature "has done him a favour", referring to the winds that from time to time blows the pollution away, thus easing pressure on him.
But the favour has a short lifespan. What is long-lasting is dust-related trauma and health problems given the fact that the governor, as well as other state authorities cannot do much about the pollution. They are just waiting -- perhaps praying -- for more favourable weather conditions and help from wind. Due to weather patterns, dust could remain over Bangkok until March before it comes back again at the end of the year if the anti-dust plan does not work out.
Frankly speaking, I am quite pessimistic about the plan, even though this is the first time the state authorities have mapped out a medium- and long-term plan. Even if all of the plan goes well, it will take three to four years before we know the outcome. What if the plan does not bear fruit?
I bet when the dust fades some time next month, people and the authorities will soon forget about those plans.
Besides, I think all the immediate measures deal a heavy blow to the poor and people whose jobs require them to work outdoors -- a big portion of the city's population.
To me, efforts to fight against the dust, if you fail to notice, only mirror the class problems in this country.
I can cite a few examples.
In the first few weeks after PM2.5 hit the city, some pointed fingers at public buses which belched black smoke. "Remove them from the road," our leaders said. This was followed by a frantic move to check the problematic buses. Some were taken off the road but don't forget that the bus agency, which has been running its business in the red -- not for years but decades -- can hardly keep its vehicles in good shape.
On the surface, such a drastic move is impressive but no one thought about the impact on the users: the poor.
Next is a plan to slap an extra tax on old cars. How many people who can afford cars, old or new, will want to use a city bus? Some may lash out at the car-loving culture, but it was the policymakers who don't care about mass transit who forced people to think it's necessary to own a car in the first place. City residents who live on the outskirts need a car and those that fall in the middle-income range can only afford second-hand vehicles or motorcycles.
When the authorities say to people: "Go use mass transport", I cannot help but wonder when the last time was that these officials actually took a bus or a taxi. Have they ever encountered the experience of being rejected by some rogue taxi driver?
And the authorities also think it's time to deal with diesel, the petrol of the poor. Any move to address the issue may bring chaos. Don't forget that the "yellow vest" movement in France started with diesel price hikes.
And we are asked to wait patiently until all the rail systems are updated. But I am not sure if the state knows -- or cares -- that the rail system in our country is very expensive.
Those who live in Samut Prakan who have to come to work in the city may have to pay 200 baht a day each. That's 600 baht a day for a family of three. But they can save some money if they travel in one car. For people at the lower end of the social spectrum, it's certain they cannot afford it.
State authorities always defend the operators who claim that each project is a big investment. True. But I would appreciate it if they can explain why such services around the world are cheaper than in Thailand. With such a mindset, the authorities do not pay even attention to some measures that will bring down the fares right away, like co-ticketing.
But it's necessary that the state make the rail system a real mode of mass transport with easy accessibility and affordability for everyone. If not, people will continue to shun the service, traffic will remain bad and the people of Bangkok will still have to keep inhaling the killer dust.