Haze problem reaches alarming level in Riau
JAKARTA (JP): An official of the Riau branch of the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) warned on Friday that the haze problem had reached alarming proportions in Riau and other provinces in Sumatra.
The official alleged that private plantation companies had increased their land clearing operations by burning forests.
The agency's head, T.M. Alamsyah, said that on Friday alone the agency had discovered at least 103 hot spots in Riau.
"Now hot spots are also being detected in North Sumatra, Jambi and Lampung. But, Riau has the largest number of hot spots," Alamsyah said.
Citing the evidence of satellite photographs, Antara quoted him as identifying several private companies which he accused of being involved in such land clearing activities: PT Inti Prona, PT Esa Indah Timber, PT Shorea Meranti Timber, PT Rokan Permai TBR, PT Mandau Abadi, PT Perkasa Baru, PT Triomas LT Forestry Indonesia, PT Expra Baru, PT Kulim Coy, PT Indowood and PT Dwi Marta.
Meanwhile, Riau's Pollutant Standards Index reading stood at a medium level on Friday, a slight improvement on the previous day.
On Monday, President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered Minister of Forestry and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail to establish a task force to prevent a repetition of major forest fires such as occurred in 1997 in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported smog over Malaysia's popular island resort of Penang and reduced visibility there of about 1,800 meters compared to normal visibility of between 8,000 and 10,000 meters due to the haze from burning forests in Indonesia.
"According to yesterday's API (Air Pollutant Index) readings, the Seberang Perai district is among the worst hit areas with the haze rated at unhealthy levels," said a local official, referring to an enclave in peninsular Malaysia which is part of the northern state.
Singapore's Meteorological Service and Ministry of Environment said that this week's satellite images showed more than 200 hot spots in Indonesia's central Sumatra region. (prb)