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
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