Illustrative image. Chiang Mai authorities have been working with residents to find causes and solutions for farm burning (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Air pollution in Thailand's Chiang Mai hasimproved from last year, and hopes are rising for good air quality in the future in the northern province and its main city,provincial Governor Nirat Wongsitthithavorn has said.
Nirat made the comment during a discussion on pollutionsuppression and mitigation with representatives of 15 consulates andconsulate-general offices in the province.
He said Chiang Mai authorities had prepared a pollutionmitigation plan to help control the number of forest fires and agriculturalburning.
Local authorities have been working with residents to reducethe amount of burning, including finding causes and solutions for farm burningand providing jobs for those whose livelihood depends on forest, he noted, adding that this has helped to improvethe wildfire situation in the province.
According to him, local authorities have also been collaborating with organisations to reduce air pollution as well as trying toextinguish wildfires in 24 hours, adding that those approaches are helping to reducelevels of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5.)
The highest PM2.5 reading in Chiang Mai in 2023 was 365microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³), but so far this year the peak has been162, Niran said.
He elaborated that the air quality has improved a lot fromlast year, as well as compared to the past, but local authorities will workharder enhance the quality in the future./.
