Locals pay high price for health

Hundreds of people in Lampang province’s Mae Moh district are spending more than Bt4,000 a month to use a mobile oxygen machine known as a bronchodilator to help them breathe amid the haze that has reached record levels.
“The villagers are suffering from respiratory symptoms caused by pollution from bush and forest fires and power-generating activity at the lignite-fuelled Mae Moh power plant,” community spokesperson Nakwiroj said yesterday.
After falling ill with respiratory symptoms, villagers are seeking medication and attention from hospitals and clinics. Many need to use the bronchodilator every four weeks, paying at least Bt4,000 a month for it.
 “ They have to pay this amount to the hospital as they want to extend their lives,” she added.
About 80 per cent of patients are suffering from respiratory symptoms caused by small particles from the lignite power plant and 20 per cent from bush and forest fires, Maliwan said.
Villagers report suffering from eye problems, nasal illness symptoms, and headaches. Many cannot see beyond three kilometres.

lampang blanketed
The Pollution Control Department yesterday reported that the atmospheric level of fine-particle dust or PM10 – 236.88 micrograms per cubic metre – has exceeded the highest recorded.
“The situation has never arisen before in Lampang province,” Natural Resources and Environment Ministry provincial officer Apiwat Arammon-tiralai said.
The heavy haze blanketing nine upper northern provinces has prompted the government to launch a “no burning” project, with a campaign among people living in the North to stop their traditional slash-and-burn land clearance methods.
The campaign was organised by a civil society group called Palang Jit Ar-Sa (The Power of Spirit) to resolve haze pollution. Volunteers, including physicians, police, students, and artists have joined the group.
The event was aimed at educating people on how to tackle the haze crisis that has persisted for more than a month. The campaign also wanted to raise awareness among people over natural resource conservation.
PM’s Office Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said that Premier Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed state agencies to resolve the problem of haze pollution within a week.
Wrongdoers who illegally burn bush and forest face a six-month jail term and a fine of Bt50,000.
Woravat also asked local authorities to use water trucks to spray in the air and reduce haze particles.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency will capture satellite images twice a day to monitor the forest fire hotspots in the North and report to the PM.
Natural Resources and Environ-ment Ministry permanent secretary Chote Trachoo said he believes the haze situation in the upper northern provinces will return to normal once these strict measures and penalties for illegal forest and bush fires take effect.