Sumatra and Kalimantan haze declared disaster<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has declared the haze stemming
\nfrom forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan a disaster requiring
\nimmediate action.<\/p>\n
The Office of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, in a
\nletter sent to provincial governors in Sumatra and Kalimantan,
\nasked them to step up their vigilance in dealing with forest
\nfires.<\/p>\n
The letter warned the problems would escalate because
\ntemperatures would remain high in September and October, possibly
\nreaching 37 degree Celcius.<\/p>\n
It warned of pollution, dangers to flights, shipping services
\nand land transportation, as well hazards to people's health.<\/p>\n
The letter ordered the establishment of 24-hour command posts
\nin all provinces on the two islands to monitor the situation and
\nto contain the problem.<\/p>\n
The worst-hit provinces are Central Kalimantan, South
\nKalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra and Jambi.<\/p>\n
Thick smoke has also blown over to Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
The government has chiefly blamed plantation companies for
\nstarting the forest fires.<\/p>\n
One official estimate said fire had razed as much as 300,000
\nhectares of forest in the last three months.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said
\nyesterday his office and the Environment Impact Management
\nAgency, which he also heads, felt empowered by the letter.<\/p>\n
\"We've been working hard in the last three weeks, and we're
\nglad that the coordinating minister's office has now come to
\nstrengthen our efforts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last week, President Soeharto banned burning forests to clear
\nland.<\/p>\n
The President has set up a national coordinating team to
\nhandle the forest fires. The team is headed by Sarwono who is
\nbeing assisted by secretary of development operation Lt. Gen.
\nA.M. Hendropriyono.<\/p>\n
The Environment Impact Management Agency has opened a hotline
\nto provide the public with information about the forest fires and
\nthe government's actions.<\/p>\n
The numbers to call are 251-1518 and 251-1519, and the numbers
\nto fax are 251-1543 and 2512331.<\/p>\n
Sarwono's office has also opened up an information hotline.
\nThe numbers are 8517145 and 8580064. (aan)<\/p>\n
Meeting -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sumatra-and-kalimantan-haze-declared-disaster-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }