It's time we cleared the air

The problem has also been compounded by the boom in rubber demand, prompting some farmers to burn land in preparation for rubber plantations.

Two years ago in March, Chiang Mai suffered very severe air pollution and smog, leaving many people with respiratory illnesses. But in spite of the publicity about pollution in Chiang Mai, nothing concrete has been done so far to solve the problem. When the situation gets worse, most of the relief measures are only temporary, such as campaigns to encourage people not to light bonfires or burn rubbish. Most Chiang Mai people do not have access to environmentally friendly waste treatment systems, and so they tend to burn a lot of waste products.

The problem of air pollution in Chiang Mai should receive more attention from both the government and the general public. After all, Chiang Mai is one of the top-earning provinces for tourism, generating a high amount of foreign exchange for the country.

The government should establish clear measures to tackle the air pollution problem in the province in a sustainable manner, while members of the public should be made aware that they worsen the situation through careless burning activities.

If nothing is done, we will be talking about this problem in Chiang Mai during this period every year. Even worse, if the situation is not dealt with properly, we may see severe air pollution in the province all year round.