Loy Krathong preparations launched in Thai North

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, October 4 (TNA) - Thailand's northern resort Chiang Mai Province is launching preparations for this year's Loy Krathong Festival in early next month, including measures to clear a large number of used krathongs on local waterways in the wake of the annual festival. Chiang Mai Governor Puthipong Sirimat told journalists of the preparations on October 3, after chairing a meeting of a task force on garbage clearance in the Ping River in the aftermath of the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival. Normally, there are about 400-500 tons of used krathongs left over in the Ping River and other local waterways in the aftermath of the Loy Krathong Festival, or the Lantern Festival, or locally-called "Yi Peng" in Chiang Mai, during which international tourists are welcome. However, up to more than 700 tons of used krathongs, including those made from plastic and foam, reportedly left over in the Ping River last year. As part of the preparations, relevant parties in Chiang Mai are, thus, also launching public campaigns on promoting the use of natural materials to make krathongs, especially biodegradable materials, for the sake of the provincial environmental protection, and on creating the public awareness on the proper management of krathong garbage. All relevant agencies in Chiang Mai have been assigned to employ both their personnel and machines to collect and eliminate the garbage as of November 7, in the wake of the provincial "Yi Peng" Festival during November 2-4 in order to timely save the Ping River and other local waterways from krathongs-borne pollution. (TNA)