BANGKOK, 7 November 2014 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has sent out officials to retrieve krathong floats from waterways throughout the capital after the Loy Krathong Festival drew to a close. In the wake of Loy Krathong festivities which were held yesterday with throngs of people participating, the Environment Department of the BMA has conducted an overnight operation to clear krathong floats from the Chao Phraya River as well as canals and ponds in public parks which were used as celebration sites. A total of 200 officials and 53 boats were deployed for the task aimed to maintain cleanliness of the environment.
The krathongs collected from the 32-kilometer section of the Chao Phraya River have been gathered under the Arun Amarin Bridge and at a warehouse in Rat Burana district before being distributed to various garbage processing plants across the city. The total number of krathongs found this year has been reported to the BMA for record keeping.
The City Hall has been campaigning for Bangkokians to reduce the number of krathongs they set afloat each year as a way to minimize water pollution. After recording only 12 percent reduction last year, a target of 15 percent was set for this year.
