Companies warned over forest fires<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau<\/p>\n
The Riau provincial forestry office issued a warning on Tuesday
\nto 40 forestry companies not to set fire to scrub or forest land.<\/p>\n
The thick haze in Riau during the dry season is allegedly
\ntriggered by the burning of scrub by the companies and local
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
\"The Riau governor has issued the warning to avoid similar
\nincidents to those that happened in previous years,\" said office
\nhead, Syuhada.<\/p>\n
The neighboring countries of Singapore and Malaysia have often
\nbeen affected by the haze from forest fires in Sumatra and
\nKalimantan. The thick haze frequently leads to canceled flights
\non both islands and also in both countries.<\/p>\n
The provincial Regional Environmental Impact Management Agency
\n(Bapedalda), also warned the companies to prepare for possible
\nforest fires.<\/p>\n
The local administration fined a Malaysian company, PT Adei
\nPlantation, US$1.1 million last year for burning forest land and
\nsued five other companies -- PT Sindora Seraya in Rokan Hilir
\nregency, PT Cibaliyung Plantation in Rokan Hilir, Dumai
\nIndustrial Zone, PT Tri Bhakti Sarimas in Kuantan Singingi and PT
\nJatim Jaya Perkasa in Rokan Hilir -- all allegedly involved in
\nthe same case.<\/p>\n
The provincial administration has set up a special task force
\nto handle forest fires. The team will clarify images on hot spots
\nfrom satellites owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
\nAdministration (NOAA) in Bogor, West Java, and the ASEAN
\nSpecialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore next
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
\"We will reconfirm any hot spots found in those companies'
\nconcessions. It's important since the satellite images could be
\ndifferent from the reality,\" said the Bapedalda head, Ahmad Syah
\nHaroffie.<\/p>\n
Both satellites have found hot spots in the concessions of
\nseveral companies, including those of PT Riau Andalan Pulp in
\nPelalawan regency and PT Arara Abadi in Siak regency.<\/p>\n
The latest data from the ASMC satellite dated May 29 showed
\nthat there were 110 hot spots in the province, up from only 35
\nhot spots previously.<\/p>\n
\"The number of hot spots based on the satellite images is
\nalways fluctuating. They could be old hot spots that have yet to
\nbe fully extinguished,\" said Ahmad.<\/p>\n
The head of the province's Natural Resources Conservation
\nCenter, Jon Kennedi, said that Riau province has been put on red
\nalert for forest fires and haze starting on June 2 until the next
\nrainy season.<\/p>\n
\"The reason for declaring a red alert in the province is to
\navoid the spread of forest fires. The special task force is
\neffective and ready to work,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A total of 16 groups of firemen are ready to extinguish the
\nfires. They are equipped with water canon, fire trucks and supply
\ntrucks.<\/p>\n
\"They must move quickly to extinguish the existing hot spots.
\nAlthough we have identified the hot spots, we must increase our
\nawareness about possible fires,\" Jon said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/companies-warned-over-forest-fires-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}