Authorities promise to limit haze<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Authorities in Central Kalimantan have ordered a
\ncrackdown on land clearers ahead of the annual haze generated by
\nunchecked forest fires, officials said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Provincial spokesman Harun Al-Rashid said its offices in
\nCentral Kalimantan had been ordered to make plans to combat the
\nfires and the police had been told to enforce a ban on setting
\nfires to clear land.<\/p>\n
Rain earlier this month had helped dissipate the haze
\ngenerated on Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Sumatra \"but we have not
\nhad any significant rain in the past 10 days and that may signal
\nthe arrival of the dry season.\"<\/p>\n
Authorities have issued written and oral warnings against
\nusing fire to clear land. Enforcement patrols would be mounted
\nand offenders prosecuted.<\/p>\n
Meteorology officials in the Sumatran provinces of Riau, Jambi
\nand South Sumatra said the haze had began to return there.<\/p>\n
\"The smoke haze can be felt, especially in the evening. It
\nhurts the eyes and has an acrid burning smell,\" said one
\nofficial.<\/p>\n
The haze is largely caused by illegal fires set to clear land
\nfor replanting.<\/p>\n
In 1997 and to a lesser degree in 1998, a choking haze from
\nfires in the country blanketed parts of Southeast Asia for
\nmonths, causing serious health problems.<\/p>\n
Using fire to clear land has been illegal since 1999 but
\nprosecutions are rare. --AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/authorities-promise-to-limit-haze-1447893297",
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