Forestry Minister: Weather Modification Operation Ideal for Tackling Forest and Land Fires
Palangka Raya (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has said that Weather Modification Operations (OMC) are the ideal solution for tackling forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Petuk Katimpun area of Palangka Raya.
“So the ideal approach is actually weather modification operations, if there are clouds available for seeding,” the minister said during a visit to the forest and land fire site in Petuk Katimpun, Palangka Raya, on Wednesday, where he observed the joint team’s handling efforts.
Raja Juli said he has coordinated with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Should conditions on the ground permit, weather modification operations will be carried out.
“If there are seedable clouds, however few, and it is technically feasible to seed them, we will carry out OMC,” he explained.
Moreover, efforts to tackle forest and land fires on the ground are often hampered by limited water sources. For this reason, various measures continue to be pursued to the fullest extent.
The minister said that, in addition to OMC, firefighting efforts are being carried out by maximising the role of the air task force using a number of water-bombing helicopters.
Furthermore, efforts also rely on ground task forces comprising various joint personnel, from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni, as well as community participation and others.
Regarding the limited water sources, Raja Juli said he has received input to increase the number of boreholes.
“One of the obstacles is water sources; earlier there was input to increase the number of boreholes and other water sources,” he said.
Based on data from the Central Kalimantan Forest and Land Fire Emergency Response Command Post as of 18 August 2026, forest and land fire incidents since January have reached 1,464 events, with a total burned area of 3,896.43 hectares.
After monitoring the forest and land fires in the Petuk Katimpun area, the Forestry Minister, together with the Governor of Central Kalimantan and other officials, continued their inspection to another location in Tumbang Nusa, Pulang Pisau Regency.