As Bangkok is suffering from air pollution throughout the year, BMA is taking more serious action on controlling emissions from vehicles.
Mr. Khachit Chatchawanit, Permanent Secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), revealed that the BMA had integrated cooperation with related organizations on solving fine particles and preparing measures to prevent and solve PM 2.5 problem under the action plan to drive the national agenda on “solutions for dust pollution” and intensify proactive measures to control pollution at the origin, particularly vehicles that emit black smoke.
The BMA has been working with Traffic Police Division, Department of Land Transport, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), and Department of Pollution Control to strictly supervise, detect, and enforce the law on all types of vehicles that emit black smoke in Bangkok metropolitan area.
In order to support the policy, the BMA urges all to examine and maintain the engines of all vehicles to prevent black smoke emissions. This includes approaches to reduce the use of diesel engines. In addition, the BMA arranges ad-hoc patrol teams to visit each local area to strictly inspect and prohibit the use of vehicles that release black smoke in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Moreover, the BMA has set up checking points to strictly examine heavy trucks carrying soil or other materials that can cause dust particle problems and trucks that go in and out of construction sites to prevent hauled materials from falling and to clean all tires every time before leaving construction sites. From January to December 2021, the BMA arrested and fined 772 people for causing dust pollution or being uncooperative in preventing dust problems, with a total fine amount of 1,743,500 Baht.
In reference to Bangkok News Business, the source of PM2.5 dust in Bangkok and its vicinity is from 54% road transport, 22% the industrial sector, 11% the household sector, 10% other transport sectors, and 1% the agricultural sector, energy sector, and waste management. As for the pollution created by road transport, it is rooted from 20% pickups, 17%, trucks, 10% buses, 6% cars, and 1% motorcycles.
