Meteorology agency proposed to be made independent body
Meteorology agency proposed to be made independent body
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja is suggesting that the national Meteorology and
Geophysics Agency (BMG) be made an independent body, citing the
agency's important role in the future.
Speaking in a public discussion on The El-Nio Phenomenon,
Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change, Sarwono said here yesterday
that the changes in the world's climate has now become more
difficult to predict.
He thus argued that the BMG has a very strategic role in
educating people and making them more "climate sensitive".
"It is so important for our agricultural planning for
instance, so instead of just serving the transportation ministry,
the BMG could also serve the Ministry of Agriculture," Sarwono
said.
The agency was originally established by Dutch officials in
the 1850s. It currently functions as a government agency under
the Ministry of Transportation.
The agency's main task is to submit weather and climate
information reports it has analyzed to officials in the
transportation, industry, national security and agriculture
sectors.
"The BMG files its reports to every relevant government
agency, but I don't know how the reports are later followed up,"
Sarwono remarked.
The minister did not elaborate further on how the BMG could
function as an independent body, saying only that it should be
more autonomous and press for tougher actions should it predict a
severe climatic threat.
According to Sarwono, the failure to heed previous warnings
issued by the agency has caused the nation dearly as exemplified
by the current forest and brush fires ravaging large parts of
Sumatra and Kalimantan creating a severe haze.
Sarwono also called on all relevant officials to seriously
take note of the recent warnings from the BMG of the possibility
of severe floods caused by the upcoming monsoon.
"We can't fight the floods, but we can control them, or even
make use of them if we anticipate them well," Sarwono told some
100 participants attending the discussion.
Haze
Meanwhile, in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Supadio Airport
remained closed for the third consecutive day yesterday as thick
haze continued to envelope the city.
Antara reported that the haze could worsen if rain does not
come soon.
Visibility around the airport in the afternoon had improved
significantly from the morning but it was still less than 500
meters.
Motorists generally had to don masks and turn their headlights
on to avoid possible collisions.
The National Aviation and Space Agency command post in the
province said the haze was coming from fires in neighboring
Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and West Kalimantan. (aan)