Use law to reduce PM2.5: Prawit

published : 24 Jan 2020 at 10:45

Greenpeace Thailand, BIOTHAI, Climate Strike Thailand and the Foundation for Consumers urge the government to tackle PM2.5 pollution. They staged a walk from Wat Benjamaborpit to the government's complaints centre near Government House in Bangkok on Thursday to publicise their cause. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said law enforcement is the key to controlling PM2.5 pollution which has covered the country over the past few weeks.

Gen Prawit, who is also the chairman of the National Environment Board, said the NEB acknowledges all state agencies have put in place their own set of rules and regulations to deal with the smog crisis.

However, he said, these rules and regulations need to be stringently enforced, with cooperation from the public.

"The law must be seriously implemented to help combat the haze at the source," he said.

"Provincial governors, including the governor of Bangkok, are the commanders at the frontline of the fight against the haze. Other agencies must support and listen to their directives."

Gen Prawit said the government is treating the problem as a priority issue, before adding the problem can be tackled with adequate education, effective monitoring and routine evaluation of ongoing efforts.

On Thursday, dust levels in Bangkok ranged between 52-68 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³).

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Vocabulary

adequate: good enough or large enough for a particular purpose - พอเพียง
commander: a police offer of high rank - ผู้บังคับบัญชา
crisis: a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point - ช่วงวิกฤต
directive: an official order - คำสั่ง
dust: very small pieces of dirt that cover surfaces inside buildings like a powder - ฝุ่น
evaluation: the process of thinking carefully about something before making a judgment about its value, importance, or quality - การประเมินผล
frontline: directly involved where fighting takes place - แนวหน้า
haze: water, smoke or dust in the air that makes it difficult to see clearly - หมอกควัน
smog (noun): clouds of dirty and smokey air - หมอกควัน, ควัน, ควันพิษ,
state agency: a government department or body - หน่วยงานของรัฐ
stringent: (of a rule, law, etc.) very strict and that must be obeyed - เข้มงวด

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