Companies warned over forest fires
Companies warned over forest fires
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau
The Riau provincial forestry office issued a warning on Tuesday
to 40 forestry companies not to set fire to scrub or forest land.
The thick haze in Riau during the dry season is allegedly
triggered by the burning of scrub by the companies and local
communities.
"The Riau governor has issued the warning to avoid similar
incidents to those that happened in previous years," said office
head, Syuhada.
The neighboring countries of Singapore and Malaysia have often
been affected by the haze from forest fires in Sumatra and
Kalimantan. The thick haze frequently leads to canceled flights
on both islands and also in both countries.
The provincial Regional Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedalda), also warned the companies to prepare for possible
forest fires.
The local administration fined a Malaysian company, PT Adei
Plantation, US$1.1 million last year for burning forest land and
sued five other companies -- PT Sindora Seraya in Rokan Hilir
regency, PT Cibaliyung Plantation in Rokan Hilir, Dumai
Industrial Zone, PT Tri Bhakti Sarimas in Kuantan Singingi and PT
Jatim Jaya Perkasa in Rokan Hilir -- all allegedly involved in
the same case.
The provincial administration has set up a special task force
to handle forest fires. The team will clarify images on hot spots
from satellites owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in Bogor, West Java, and the ASEAN
Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore next
Monday.
"We will reconfirm any hot spots found in those companies'
concessions. It's important since the satellite images could be
different from the reality," said the Bapedalda head, Ahmad Syah
Haroffie.
Both satellites have found hot spots in the concessions of
several companies, including those of PT Riau Andalan Pulp in
Pelalawan regency and PT Arara Abadi in Siak regency.
The latest data from the ASMC satellite dated May 29 showed
that there were 110 hot spots in the province, up from only 35
hot spots previously.
"The number of hot spots based on the satellite images is
always fluctuating. They could be old hot spots that have yet to
be fully extinguished," said Ahmad.
The head of the province's Natural Resources Conservation
Center, Jon Kennedi, said that Riau province has been put on red
alert for forest fires and haze starting on June 2 until the next
rainy season.
"The reason for declaring a red alert in the province is to
avoid the spread of forest fires. The special task force is
effective and ready to work," he said.
A total of 16 groups of firemen are ready to extinguish the
fires. They are equipped with water canon, fire trucks and supply
trucks.
"They must move quickly to extinguish the existing hot spots.
Although we have identified the hot spots, we must increase our
awareness about possible fires," Jon said.