Facing El Niño Threat, Rohil Police and Forkopimda Intensify 'Zero Burning' Campaign
The Rokan Hilir Police (Polres Rohil), along with TNI personnel, the Rohil Regional Government, and Forkopimda officials, held a regional coordination meeting (rakorda) to tackle forest and land fires (karhutla) and anticipate the Super El Niño phenomenon. In addition to prevention efforts, the police and local government are intensifying socialisation of the ban on burning land through the ‘Zero Burning’ campaign.
The meeting took place at the Deputy Regent of Rohil’s Meeting Room on Jl Arena MTQ, in the Batu 6 Office Complex, Bagansiapiapi, Kepulauan Bagan Punak Meranti, Bangko Subdistrict, Rokan Hilir Regency, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Attendees included Rohil Police Chief AKBP Isa Imam Syahroni, Deputy Regent of Rohil Jhony Charles, Rohil Regional Secretary Fauzi Efrizal, Dandim 0321/Rohil represented by Operations Officer Captain Arh Simson Siregar, and other Forkopimda officials.
During the meeting, AKBP Isa highlighted the Super El Niño phenomenon, which has the potential to cause prolonged dry spells. He stated that this phenomenon must be addressed collectively as an early anticipation step to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla).
On the other hand, AKBP Isa affirmed his commitment to fully support efforts to address potential karhutla disasters, alongside commitments to law enforcement against karhutla perpetrators.
“We from the police side are only providing backup for extinguishing and cooling, and solely to uncover karhutla perpetrators,” he added.
The Police Chief also requested that subdistrict heads and police station chiefs gather landowners, Farmer Groups, and Cooperatives to socialise prevention and education regarding karhutla prevention efforts. He also emphasised that patrols in karhutla-prone areas should be intensified.
“So that subdistrict heads, police station chiefs, and village heads map empty and neglected land to detect karhutla occurrences in their respective areas as an early detection effort for forest and land fires,” he explained.
Karhutla Emergency Alert
Meanwhile, Deputy Regent of Rohil Jhony Charles stated that his side has declared an emergency alert status for forest and land fires in Rokan Hilir Regency. He also urged subdistrict heads and village heads to advise landowners and fishermen not to clear land by burning (zero burning).
“With this alert status, we are requesting water bombing helicopter assistance from Basarnas for extinguishing and cooling in Rokan Hilir Regency,” said Jhony.
Jhony hopes that law enforcement officials will take firm action against land burning perpetrators. He also requested that post-karhutla land be cordoned off with police tape as a deterrent effect so it is not reused for plantation activities.
“We urge those who clear land by burning to immediately put up police line so that landowners are deterred,” he concluded.