HAZY DAY: The thick smoke that enveloped Sibu town at 10am yesterday.
SIBU: Open burning permits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in view of the prevailing dry spell.
A source from Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) revealed to The Borneo Post yesterday that the issuance of the permits would be frozen if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reached 100 or above.
“As of now, we are monitoring the situation in the state very closely. The API reading throughout the state is below 100. However, in view of the dry spell, we are reviewing the open burning permit on a case-to-case basis,” he said.
Meanwhile, a check with the Department of Environment (DOE) website at 11am yesterday revealed that Sibu had the highest API reading at 60.
The API had climbed from 55 at 7am while temperature soared to 34 degrees Celsius.
When asked why, the source figured this could be due to wind blowing the haze.
He also cautioned that stern action would be taken against biomass burning.
“There is a total ban enforced on backyard burning at all times irrespective of the weather condition. Stern action can be meted out against culprits,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, according to NREB’s website open burning without permit from them is an offence.
It states: “Pursuant to the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance (NREO), 1993, Section 30(1)(a) – Any person who carries out or causes or permits to be carried out open burning of refuse or other combustible materials on any land without written permission of the Controller shall be guilty of an offence; a fine of twenty thousand ringgit (RM20,000) and imprisonment for three (3) years.”
It also said issuance of permits would be suspended during the dry season to avoid occurrence of haze.
Meanwhile, NOAA-18 satellite had detected a staggering 115 hotspots throughout Borneo on Sunday.