Chiang Mai Governor prohibits burning

Governor of Chiang Mai, Viboon Sanguanphongs, issued a public order prohibiting burning in open areas. The public order comes after the public’s concern over pollution in Chiang Mai, which was particularly bad during the previous cool season.

The order prohibits the burning of rubbish, the cutting down of trees and the subsequent burning of leaves and twigs, which can lead to extremely bad pollution over the city and surroundings.

Officers are being despatched to instruct the general public on alternative methods of waste disposal and recycling, in order to produce fertilizer and to save the environment.

In addition, certain forested areas in Chiang Mai are fire protection zones and any breach of the new public order in these areas will be severely dealt with.

During the dry season especially, pollution combines with dust from roads and fields and gets stuck in the Chiang Mai valley when colder air forms over the warmer valley micro-climate; known as an ‘inversion layer.’ Thus, colder air traps warm air below it along with the polluting particles.