RI takes action against forest fires<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia is taking action to curb fires
\nraging in Sumatra and Kalimantan which have been driving up
\nregional pollution levels, Singapore's environment ministry said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia reported that they had already activated a 24-hour
\ncommand post to monitor the fire situation, mobilized helicopters
\nto check the hot spots and issued warning letters to forest
\nconcessionaires and plantation owners against using fire to clear
\nland,\" the environment ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"They have also taken action to mitigate the fires,\" it said.
\nOfficials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the ASEAN
\nsecretariat held a video conference on Tuesday to discuss ways of
\ntackling the fires and smoke haze accompanying it.<\/p>\n
Indonesia told the meeting that it was also considering a
\nproposal to ban open burning during the dry season between July
\nand September.<\/p>\n
Indonesia drew harsh criticism from its neighbors in 1997 when
\nsmoke from fires lit by slash-and-burn farmers blanketed large
\nparts of Southeast Asia, hurting tourism and prompting health
\nconcerns across the region.<\/p>\n
Skies over Thailand and Malaysia were blackened by smoke from
\nplantation fires through much of last week. Favorable winds have
\nhelped keep Singapore's pollution readings in the \"moderate\"
\ncategory.<\/p>\n
The next meeting of environment officials is scheduled for
\nAug. 2 in Brunei.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-takes-action-against-forest-fires-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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