TEMPO.CO, Jambi - Haze that has blanketed Jambi and its surrounding areas since last week may persist until the next few weeks as the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast that drought will grip these areas until the end of September or October this year.
"We hope the BMKG forecast is accurate, so the condition [the people are facing] will not be too long. The haze does not only pose risks to human health but may also disrupt economic development in the region," said the Head of Jambi Disaster Management Agency Zubaidi to Tempo yesterday.
The air condition in Jambi and its surroundings have not reached the critical stage although several airlines occasionally experience flight delays. Those include flights from Jakarta to the city.
Zubaidi said the agency had been preparing measures to cope with the haze, which is caused by forest and peat land fires.
The central government has also expressed readiness to help making artificial rain.
In the meantime, Chief of Sultan Taha Syaifuddin Airport Norman Manalu said within the last four to five days, flights from Jakarta to Jambi have often been delayed, especially in the morning.
"Such condition often happens but air condition has been quite normal since yesterday until today, so flights go according to schedule," Manalu said.
Drought in Jambi has not only caused haze but also clean water shortages.
In several locations, local residents cannot get water from local tap water supplier Tirtha Mayang Jambi as the water supply in Batang Hari River has depleted.
SYAIPUL BAKHORI
