TEMPO.CO, Palembang-At least 585 hotspots had been detected in several districts in South Sumatra in the last few months and no less than 135-hectare of lands and gardens were scorched.
The South Sumatra Head of Estate Service Fahrurrozi disclosed the finding during a Standy Briefing on Land and Garden Fire Control on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. “Fire also occurred in a concession area so it needs immediate attention,” Fahrurrozi said.
The data they have collected throughout the first semester showed hotspots are detected in areas of Musi Banyuasin, Ogan Komering Ilir, Musi Rawas and Muara Enim. From the 585 hotspots, Fahrurrozi can confirm 85 hotpots occurred in garden concession areas. “About 135 hectares of garden were on fire and have been successfully extinguished,” he said.
South Sumatra Regional Secretary Mukti Sulaiman said this year’s prevention effort should be more maximized than the previous year. Once fire occurs, it will be hard to extinguish. The purpose of early prevention is to make South Sumatra be able to be a smoke-free region.
Mukti also said that he no longer wants to pollute the air in his own region until Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines. “South Sumatra also has a local regulation on fire control,” he said.
PARLIZA HENDRAWAN
