A WOMAN farmer who posted images of herself burning sugarcane crop residue which led to social media outrage surrendered to police today (Jan. 25), Naewna newspaper said.
Ms. Phut, 59, whose farm is at Si Bun Rueang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, told police that she lived alone with her children having moved elsewhere to work and seeing that her two-rai sugarcane farmland was overgrown so she burnt it to prepare for next season’s crop and posted images of herself doing so,
Her daughter quickly deleted them and told her it is illegal to do this especially with the PM2.5 pollution gripping the country.
To show her innocence she surrendered and promised never to do this again.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sittisak Akarahat, deputy chief of investigation at Si Bun Rueang police station, said Phut had been charged with burning grass on her property with this causing nuisance and endangering health. She faces a maximum three months’ imprisonment and/or a fine not more than 25,000 baht.
The PM2.5 reading for Bangkok at AQICN.org at 5 p.m. today. was 160 microgrammes per cubic metre which is unhealthy.
For the standard value of PM 2.5 dust, the average over 24 hours should not exceed 37.5 µg/m³. If it exceeds this, it is considered to have an impact on health.
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Ms. Phut’s photos showing her farm ablaze, above and Front Page, and with the authorities, inserted. Credit: Naewna
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