TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru - Acting Riau Governor Arsyadjuliandi “Andi” Rachman extended the forest Fire alert in Riau to September 30, 2015 following a long dry season this year.
“It’s very dangerous if we don’t anticipate it as early as possible,” Andi said on Thursday, August 27.
According to Andi, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics predicted that the dry season would last until December. Therefore, Andi said that his administration would take measures to prevent haze disaster from recurring this year.
Andi claimed that the provincial fire unit had done their job by conducting firefighting efforts by land and air to prevent the forest fire from spreading. The Riau Forestry and Plantation agency, Andi said, continued to oversee people’s activities related to the land management.
“Private companies are also required to provide supports for the community around forest concession areas,” he added.
Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency head revealed that firefighting operations, including water bombings and weather modifications, cost Rp 40 billion (US$2.8 million) since the forest fire alert was announced in April.
RIYAN NOFITRA