Smoke haze shrouds North, Northeast

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (TNA) -- Authorities in northern and northeastern provinces were working out measures to control smoke haze from field burning while sugarcane millers helped by setting a bounty for the arrest of people burning sugarcane plantations. In Lampang province, there were forest fires on two locations in Ban Sadet sub-district of the provincial seat. The Pollution Control Department reported the levels of particulate matter with 2.5 microns and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranged between 112-134 micrograms per cubic meter of air in 24 hours in the province. The safe level is at 50mcg. Meanwhile, PM2.5 was reported at over 60mcg in Mae Sot district of Tak as wildfires erupted near Mae Sot airport and Mae Sot-Tak Highway. In Chiang Mai province PM2.5 amounted to 89-92mcg in the provincial seat due to forest fires. Visibility was low on Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road. Chiang Mai airport reported a 1-kilometer visibility while people in downtown areas could not see the Doi Suthep moutain. In Loei province, local sugarcane millers told authorities that they cut the buying price of burnt sugarcane to 70 baht per ton to help reduce the burning of sugarcane plantations and also set a bounty of 50,000 baht for each arrest of the people who burned sugarcane fields. In Bangkok PM2.5 was at unhealthy levels in three districts: 54mcg in Laksi, 67mcg in Bang Khen and 51mcg in Bang Phlad. (TNA)