Thick haze blankets Sampit

Thick haze blankets Sampit

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan: Thick haze from forest fires
returned to Central Kalimantan on Friday, blanketing most parts
of Sampit city in East Kotawaringin regency.

However, it was unclear where the smoke was coming from.

Head of the East Kotawaringin environment management office
(Bapedalda) Ketut Widi Widiawan blamed land clearance by suburban
residents in Sampit for the haze.

However, other information pointed to fires on land owned by
major plantation companies in the regency, he added.

"We will check this information," Widiawan claimed.

He said the choking haze would continue to hit the regency
during the dry season.

Based on satellite monitoring on Aug. 3, 2003, at least 37 hot
spots were found across the regency, he said, adding that the
number was among the 194 fires detected in Central Kalimantan.
--Antara