Strict ban on floating lanterns near Bangkok landmarks and airports.

THE BANGKOK Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has warned that anybody selling or releasing airborne lanterns in key venues with tall and large buildings from 6pm today until 5am tomorrow would face up to three months in jail and/or Bt6,000 in fines.

 The venues included palaces, temples, historic sites, event-organising places and government offices. Warning signs have also been posted at 32 piers and pontoons along the Chao Phraya River and 21 along canals prohibiting their use during the Loy Krathong festival. They include the Wang Lang (Siriraj) Pier, Suraosaikongdin School Pier, Wat Bukkalo Pier, Chongnonsee Pier and Wat Chatkaewchongkolnee Pier.

As for those that can be used, the city has also posted signs notifying the public about the pier's load limit, which is usually up to 60 persons.

The ban on floating lanterns was announced last week by deputy Bangkok governor Pol Maj-General Atsawin Kwanmuang, based on the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007's Sections 21, 22, 32 and 37.

Floating lanterns are strictly prohibited in areas near Suvarnabhumi Airport, namely Prawet, Nong Chok, Suan Luang, Min Buri, Khlong Sam Wa and Lat Krabang districts. Areas near Don Meuang International Airport are Don Muang, Bang Khen, Lak Si, Sai Mai, Bang Sue, Lat Phrao, Dusit, Phaya Thai and Chatuchak districts.

 Up North, Chiang Mai International Airport director Group Captain Wisoot Chantana yesterday affirmed that a total of 84 flights had been cancelled and another 40 rescheduled from yesterday until tomorrow as a measure to avoid the floating lanterns.

Wisoot said this encouraged visitors to arrive earlier and stay longer in the province, hence generating more spending. He said the number of arrivals in the two to three days before the festival had risen to 17,000 per day from the usual 12,000. He said visitors had been informed about flight cancellations or rescheduling, so they could plan accordingly.

Meanwhile, local craftsmen in Chiang Mai dismissed as untrue a viral post circulating in social media about floating lanterns being attached to small cooking-gas cylinders to keep them afloat longer and rise higher.

Nikorn Wongwiraj, owner of the Loongthong Khomloy shop, said such an invention was not likely to rise as high as 6,000 metres. He said the lanterns were made of paper, wire and bamboo so they are light enough to float and could not possibly carry a cylinder.

 He explained that if there were such lanterns in reality, they would have to be rather enormous with a 10-metre radius to carry the weight, hence it would be witnessed by far more people if it were ever to take to the skies.

Source: The Nation

*****

For the Best ‪#‎Hotels and ‪#‎Resorts
We help you with your ‪#‎Bookings 
BOOK NOW SIMPLE CLICK ON THIS LINK ON OR THE BANNER
ASIAN-BESTHOTELS   
EUROPEAN-BESTHOTELS   
VIP-BESTHOTELS 
HOLLAND-BESTHOTELS
PLANET-ASIAN   
GERRIT-TIENKAMP   

.

 

.

Tradition vs Trash: Officials urge fewer plastic krathong

Almost 1 million krathong were collected from waterways in Bangkok last year. 

Celebrants of this week's Loy Krathong festival have been urged to opt for krathong made of natural materials instead of plastic foam.

 The Pollution Control Department expects a smaller number of the non-biodegradable foam-made items to be deployed during the historic festival this year, based on their gradual reduction over the past seven years.

In 2011, the department recorded around 58,000 foam-made krathong which accounted for 18 percent of the total floating items in Bangkok, said director-general Wichan Simchaya.

This declined to 14 percent in 2012, 12 percent in 2013, and 10 percent in 2014, he added.

Wichan urged the public to help protect the environment by using smaller krathong made of natural materials such as banana tree leaves and flowers, and also suggested sharing one krathong per family or group, reported Thai PBS and PPTV.

Thailand is currently one of five Asian countries responsible for the majority of plastic found in world's oceans as the nation's demand for safe, disposable products is outstripping its waste management capabilities, said a recent report by Ocean Conservancy.

Over half of the world's plastic garbage in the oceans comes from Thailand, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Last year almost one million krathong were floated by Bangkokians. The waste was sent to three different disposal units.

Source: Coconuts

*****

For the Best ‪#‎Hotels and ‪#‎Resorts
We help you with your ‪#‎Bookings 
BOOK NOW SIMPLE CLICK ON THIS LINK ON OR THE BANNER
ASIAN-BESTHOTELS   EUROPEAN-BESTHOTELS   VIP-BESTHOTELS  HOLLAND-BESTHOTELS
PLANETASIAN   GERRIT-TIENKAMP   TRIPADVISOR

.

.