Expert urges minister to scrap ineffective water-spraying dust reduction order.

Matichon•Society•2d ago

Reader Briefing

An academic urges the Minister of Interior to cancel a directive for provincial authorities to spray water for dust reduction, citing its ineffectiveness and budgetary waste.

•Associate Professor Dr. Jedsad Denduangboripant criticized a directive from the Ministry of Interior for provincial governments to spray water to reduce PM2.5 dust.
•Dr. Jedsad stated that the water-spraying method is ineffective, a waste of public funds, labor, and water, and can even increase pollution from the spray vehicles' engines.
•He suggested that the Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, should revoke the order and consult environmental experts or Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt regarding alternative measures.

Overview

•On April 11, Associate Professor Dr. Jedsad Denduangboripant posted on Facebook, criticizing a directive from the Department of Local Administration for provincial governors.
•The Department of Local Administration ordered provincial governors to instruct local administrative organizations to 'spray water to increase humidity in the air to reduce fine dust PM2.5'.
•Dr. Jedsad argues that the water-spraying method is ineffective in reducing dust, as claimed, and is a waste of budget, labor, and water.
•The water-spraying method also creates more dust and smoke from the engines of the water trucks.
•A LUV60 water spraying machine, which is reportedly ineffective and can even spray dust from diesel engines, costs 8.3 million THB per unit.
•Dr. Jedsad suggested that Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul should order the cancellation of this directive.
•Dr. Jedsad recommended consulting with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, or environmental academics for better solutions.
•Dr. Jedsad also suggested consulting with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt about why Bangkok has stopped implementing such water-spraying measures and now focuses on more effective alternatives.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Aj. Jedsad

"I request that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, as the Minister of Interior (former and current), order the Director-General of the Department of Local Administration to revoke the order directing all provincial governors to inform local administration organizations to 'spray water to reduce PM2.5 dust'."

ขอรบกวน ท่านอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล ในฐานะรัฐมนตรีกระทรวงมหาดไทย (คนก่อนและคนปัจจุบัน) สั่งการให้ อธิบดีกรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น ยกเลิกคำสั่ง ที่ให้ ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด ทุกจังหวัด แจ้ง อบจ. อบต. เทศบาล ฯลฯ ให้ดำเนินการ “ฉีดพ่นน้ำลดฝุ่นPM25” ด้วยครับ

Key Entities

Person

Associate Professor Dr. Jedsad Denduangboripant(รศ.ดร.เจษฎา เด่นดวงบริพันธ์)ℹ️

An academic from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science, Biology Department, who criticized the ineffective dust reduction method.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The former and current Minister of Interior, who was urged to revoke the water-spraying directive.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation(อาจารย์เชน รัฐมนตรีกระทรวง อว.)

A minister whose opinion was recommended to be sought regarding the effectiveness of dust reduction measures.

Chadchart Sittipunt(อาจารย์ชัชชาติ)ℹ️

The Governor of Bangkok, whose approach to dust reduction was suggested as a model to follow.

Organization

Department of Local Administration(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น)

An organization within the Ministry of Interior that issued the order for provinces to spray water to reduce dust.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry that issued the directive for provincial authorities to spray water for dust reduction.

Policy

PM2.5ℹ️

Fine particulate matter specified in the directive as the target for dust reduction through water spraying.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The capital city where alternative, more effective dust reduction measures are now prioritized over water spraying.