Accompanied by Riau Police Chief, Environment Minister Inspects Canal Blocking to Prevent Forest Fires in Pelalawan
Environment Minister Muhammad Jumhur Hidayat conducted a working visit to Mendol Island, Kuala Kampar District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau. Jumhur directly inspected the construction of canal blocks, which serve as the frontline defence in preventing forest and land fires (karhutla).
Jumhur arrived at the location around 10:45 WIB, accompanied by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan and Pelalawan Regent Zukri. The delegation was welcomed by Kuala Kampar District Head Tengku Radi Guspandiar. Before commencing the inspection, Minister Jumhur and the delegation planted palm trees in the Kuala Kampar field as a tangible demonstration of the environmental restoration movement.
After the welcoming ceremony, the group proceeded to the canal block construction site in Sungai Perak Village. Due to limited access and the absence of four-wheeled vehicles on Mendol Island, Jumhur and his entourage used residents’ motorcycles. The group travelled 4.2 kilometres across the island, then walked a further 200 metres to reach the canal construction site.
Minister Jumhur explained that building canal blocks is crucial in peatland areas like Kuala Kampar. The canal blocks function to regulate the groundwater level so that the peatland remains wet even during the dry season. “We face the fact that there are peatlands across various regions in the country. The fact is that if peatlands are not continuously inundated while being exposed to sunlight, they have the potential to heat up and catch fire,” he stated at the location.
“So, land fires are essentially a natural disaster. However, it can be mitigated, especially if we can ensure that there is always water inundating the area,” he explained. According to technical specifications, the canal blocks being built are approximately 3 metres wide. At certain points, the blocks are constructed in tiers following the land elevation to ensure water permeates perfectly into the peat dome.
“My visit here is to demonstrate that the collective movement to inundate the land, as we are doing here by building canal blocks and creating dams to limit water flow so that water can overflow into the surrounding area, is part of the effort to mitigate and reduce land fire disasters,” Jumhur stated. The construction of canal blocks in Sungai Perak Village is part of a series of peatland restoration programmes in Riau aimed at ensuring the province remains free from haze caused by forest and land fires.
“Hopefully, these efforts, combined with strong prayers, will ensure that God does not permit fire or heat to burn our land. So that we can work as usual, without generating greenhouse gas emissions, and without disturbing anyone, including the community,” he concluded. After inspecting the canal block construction site, Jumhur and the delegation held a dialogue with residents to gather input on issues in the Mendol Island area, Kuala Kampar, Riau.