Dry weather here to stay, says board chairman

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KUCHING: The state is currently experiencing prolonged dry weather conditions since the middle of June, whereby rainfalls in some areas fall between 40 to 60 per cent below normal rate.

The dry weather has also caused a hazy condition throughout the state, as indicated by increasing trends of Air Pollutant Index (API), Fire Weather Index (FWI) as well as number of hotspots detected.

Chairman of Natural Resources and Environment Board(NREB), Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem said through a press release yesterday, “The hazy condition is due to smoke emitted from various sources such as controlled burning carried out by land developers and transboundary haze pollution from neighbouring country.”

He added that incidences of uncontrolled open burning, especially in peat areas, bush fires, roadside and backyard burning and farmers carrying out shifting cultivations are responsible for the high number of hotspots detected and the increasing trends of API readings throughout the state.

He said from June 23 to 27, the API Station at Kuala Baram, Miri, had recorded air quality at unhealthy levels of above 100.

“To control and reduce haze pollution from local sources, NREB Sarawak had taken proactive measures by suspending the processing and issuance of Open Burning Permits with effect from June 20.

“As such, all permits that have been issued previously have now been revoked with immediate effect and will only be reviewed once the weather conditions return to normal,” said Adenan.

He said the state Disaster and Relief Committee has also issued a directive that open burning activities are prohibited for a period of one month with effect from June 27.

According to the minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, relevant government agencies such as Bomba, Rela and local authorities are doing their very best to contain and suppress bush fires in their respective divisions.

“However, I urge all land owners and developers to adhere with the directive and to cooperate in mobilising personnel to immediately suppress incidental fires in the respective areas,” he said.

He said to ensure compliance to this directive, NREB, together with the Department of Environment Sarawak, had beefed up their monitoring and enforcement activities, and if situation warrants, air surveillance will be conducted to catch culprits carrying out illegal open burning.

As of June 28, NREB has investigated 136 cases of open burning in plantation areas and by smallholders, and 15 Investigation Papers have been prepared for further actions, he said.

“While local communities are excluded from these directives, I strongly advise local farmers to be cautious when conducting burning in the respective farms to prevent fire from spreading to other areas, especially in peat areas where smoke from underground peat fires will be difficult to suppress,” said Adenan.

NREB will continue to update the latest information on the haze situation on API, FWI and hotspot readings throughout Sarawak through NREB’s website ‘www.nreb.gov.my’, as well as local media.

The general public are advised to restrict their outdoor activities should the haze worsen.