Government sets up forest fire enforcement team<\/p>\n
PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): Air pollution and health
\nproblems are causing concern among people in the province, with
\nno sign of abatement in devastating forest fires on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
There has been an increase in the number of people admitted
\nwith respiratory problems, a member of staff at state Dr.
\nSoedarso hospital said. However, no exact figure was available.<\/p>\n
In parts of the provincial capital, the air pollution index
\nhas reached 1,030, far exceeding the maximum tolerable level of
\n300. Despite the risk of respiratory problems, many motorists
\nwere observed not wearing protective masks.<\/p>\n
Residents said the smog started to restrict visibility from
\nabout 8 a.m. and lasted until dusk.<\/p>\n
The NOAA satellite observation detected 708 hot spots across
\nthe province on Tuesday, mostly in coastal areas where oil palm
\nplantations have been planted on peatland.<\/p>\n
There has been no rainfall in the past three weeks.<\/p>\n
Thick haze also shrouded most of West Sumatra on Tuesday,
\nfollowing a blaze which hit over 800 hectares of forests and
\nplantations in the area.<\/p>\n
The local administration has been helpless to extinguish the
\nfire as prolonged drought and strong winds have helped in its
\nspread. It destroyed protected forests in the regencies of
\nPasaman, Agam, Limau Manis and Padang.<\/p>\n
The provincial capital of Padang, Padang Panjang, about 60
\nkilometers north of Padang, and Bukittinggi in Agam regency were
\nthe cities worst hit by the resulting haze.<\/p>\n
Punishment<\/p>\n
In a bid to end forest fires, the government has formed an
\nenforcement team to help bring those responsible for setting them
\nto court, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty
\nEradication Basri Hasanuddin said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Smog from vast forest fires enveloped neighboring countries in
\n1997 to 1998 and wiped out hundreds of thousands of hectares of
\nforestland.<\/p>\n
About 1,200 hot spots were sighted by weather satellites in
\nSumatra last week.<\/p>\n
Basri, after attending a special coordinating meeting with
\nrelated ministries on forest fires, said the team \"will be given
\nfull authority to investigate and collect data about any party
\nwho set fires to clear land\".<\/p>\n
Weak legal enforcement, due to politically connected companies
\nand corruption, are among the factors blamed for continuing
\nforest fires, despite various efforts involving Southeast Asian
\nneighbors.<\/p>\n
The decree on the team's establishment will be issued in the
\nnext two days, Basri said. State Minister of Environment Sonny
\nKeraf said the team would be chaired by a detective from the
\nNational Police, but he did not identify the person.<\/p>\n
The team will consist of representatives of the police, the
\nAttorney General's Office and the Environmental Impact Management
\nAgency (Bapedal).<\/p>\n
\"Any companies found to have caused fires either intentionally
\nor unintentionally will face legal action and their names will be
\nmade public,\" Basri said.<\/p>\n
He added the team would be aided by the National Aeronautics
\nand Space Institute (LAPAN) to provide satellite images to
\nidentify the location of the fires.<\/p>\n
The government has said the main cause of forest fires is land
\nclearing by locals, plantation firms and timber companies.<\/p>\n
Sonny said that despite a law providing jail terms of up to
\nfive months and a fine of Rp 10 billion, enforcement was slow.<\/p>\n
\"The new team is expected to take action as soon as possible,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
\"The government has also instructed plantation firms and
\ntimber companies to extinguish fires in their operating area,\"
\nBasri said. \"Special task forces will be formed, consisting of
\nlocals and non-governmental organizations in needy regions.\"<\/p>\n
He added that companies would be expected to pay for the
\nteams' needs. (08\/28\/edt)<\/p>",
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