Choking haze covers city of Pontianak
Choking haze covers city of Pontianak
PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): The haze covering the city of
Pontianak since last week has exceeded tolerable limits, and
local officials suggested on Friday that people refrain from
outdoor activities and use masks whenever they have to leave
their homes.
On Tuesday, the air-pollution meter installed near the Youth
Center in Pontianak indicated that the air contained between
1,067 micrograms and 1,494 micrograms of dust.
"The figures have exceeded tolerable limits. According to the
Standard Index of Air Pollution (ISPU), the tolerable volume of
dust content in the air is under 50 micrograms. More than 300
micrograms is very hazardous," M. Caheran, head of the West
Kalimantan office of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.
The prolonged dry period, with recorded rainfall under 150
millimeters, could exacerbate the situation, he added.
Responding to the worsening situation, Pontianak Mayor Buchary
A. Rahman and head of the health ministry's local office Oscar
Primadi called on residents to minimize their outdoor activities,
especially after dark.
They also suggested that members of the public use masks when
leaving their homes.
"It would be better for the public not to engage in outdoor
sports and to stop burning garbage for a time," the mayor said.
Primadi has also instructed all public health centers
(Puskesmas) to make medicines for respiratory complaints
available.
Despite the deteriorating situation and the call from the
mayor, many people still took the risk by not using masks when
outdoors.
Only a few people were seen wearing masks when riding
motorcycles or bicycles on the streets.
Residents said that things got worse at night.
"If you ride a motorcycle without goggles and a mask at 8
p.m., you'll get sore eyes and your nostrils will become
irritated. It's not easy to breath. Your nostrils fill up with
dust," Asan, a motorcyclist, said on Jl. A. Yani on Friday.
According to Herkulana Mekaryani, head of the province's
Environmental Impact Management Agency, the haze which has been
smothering Pontianak is caused by forest fires.
"Based on satellite pictures we've received, as of Thursday
there were two hot spots in Pontianak regency, four others in
Ketapang, three in Sintang, two in Kapuas Hulu, while Sambas and
Sanggau had one hot spot each," she explained.
She said a task force to deal with the forest fires would be
established soon.
In 1997, thick haze covered West Kalimantan bringing ground,
air and sea communications to a halt for about one week.
The haze, mostly caused by forest fires, usually appears in
the dry season, with the public's hardships being compounded by a
lack of water.
When the haze hit the province in 1997, thousands of people
had to queue outdoors on a daily basis for water.
The haze also affected flights in the neighboring countries of
Malaysia and Singapore, which strongly criticized the government
of Indonesia's efforts to deal with the haze. (46/sur)