Ending the haze problem

It appears that the thick haze hanging over parts of the region since last month is not about to dissipate. Rather, the problem seems to be getting worse.

The haze now plagues not only parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan but also areas in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. It not only hampers land and air transportation but has become a health hazard.

Many people have complained that the haze is causing breathing difficulties and eye inflammations. It is reported that not less than 20 million people are currently suffering from respiratory problems due to the haze.

Similar problems were reported when haze from smoke spread to these same regions in 1991 and again in 1994 and 1997. Forest and brush fires were the main sources of the problem. The worst offenders, however, were agricultural estates which use fire for land clearing.

Regardless of the cause, as Minister of Environment Sarwono said in Jakarta on Tuesday, the problem has reached serious levels. A routine approach to the problem would therefore be unlikely to end it, he said. What is needed at this stage is a sense of urgency.

The relevant focus now is the concrete steps that can be taken to overcome the problem given its increasing gravity. The planned meeting of corporate leaders, to discuss the issue, brings some hope.

Such a meeting, hopefully, will be able to suggest some concrete measures to end the haze problem. Apart from this, we expect that ways can be found to curb the practice of slash-and- burn agriculture.

In the meantime, our environment experts could try to come up with suggestions about how farmers and companies can clear their land without the use of fire.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta