The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to impose ban on trucks in the capital tomorrow and Friday, as air pollution has reached a critical level.
According to the BMA, ‘critical’ means that air pollution in at least five districts has either reached the ‘Red’ level, or ‘Orange’ in 15, for two consecutive days.
The BMA’s Air Quality Information Centre reported today that PM2.5 density has exceeded safe levels throughout the capital, with five districts being categorized as Red and the rest Orange.
The ban applies to all trucks with six wheels or more which are not registered with the ‘Green List’ program, with the exception of electric vehicles, trucks powered by natural gas and trucks that meet the Euro 5-6 standards.
The ban will come into effect at 1am on Thursday and will last until midnight on Friday. Violators may face a month in jail and/or a fine of 2,000 baht.
Meanwhile, 103 schools in Bangkok have suspended classes for up to 5 days for the wellbeing of the students.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said today that the city administration has allowed school managers to use their judgment as to whether to suspend classes and for how many days, based on the BMA’s guidelines.
He said that the administration only has jurisdiction over schools under its supervision, not those which are privately-owned or under the Education Ministry.
School managers can suspend classes for three days at a time, while chief district officers can do so for seven days at a time.
