President: Forest and land fire handling underway, resolved in several areas
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has said Indonesia has already carried out mitigation measures for the impacts of the El Nino phenomenon, including the increased potential for forest and land fires, with the expectation that handling can be completed in a number of locations within two weeks.
At the launch of the 100 GWp Solar Power Plant at the Java-Bali Sea Crossing Operation Monument in Jembrana Regency, Bali, on Tuesday, the President said the entire world is now facing the impacts of El Nino, including in Indonesia in the form of a drier dry season.
“We are grateful. I have travelled around to several places, I checked myself, thank God all elements of regional government, ministries, institutions, the TNI, Polri, BNPB, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Forestry, all are working effectively,” said the President.
“Now I think it has begun to be resolved, mitigated, in several places I think I hope within one or two weeks this can all be finished,” Prabowo added.
He explained that the government has deployed equipment and personnel both for forest and land fire mitigation and control. This includes the deployment of dozens of helicopters and aircraft for water bombing, as well as the construction of bore wells and canal blocks for mitigation.
Thousands of personnel have also been deployed in efforts to handle and prevent forest and land fires in a number of locations in Indonesia.
“So I am heartened, I am proud of the achievements of our officers in the field. I convey this on this occasion, because even though we face trials, even though we face obstacles and hindrances, we are strong, we are capable, we continue to prove it,” he said.
He gave the example of how the government moved quickly in handling the disaster in Aceh some time ago, as well as most recently in dealing with the impacts of the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara.
The President, as Head of State, continues to gather the strength of the nation to face various existing vulnerabilities. For this reason, he assured that the nation’s wealth as Indonesia’s strength continues to be managed as well as possible and as honestly as possible, based on love of the homeland and a great sense of responsibility.