TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Forestry Ministry's director general for forest protection and nature conservation (PHKA), Sonny Partono, said heavy rain in several areas in Riau over the weekend has reduced haze from forest fires. "Heavy rain has diminished the haze a lot. Some commercial planes have started to land in Riau," he told Tempo.
Partono said that haze will be gone completely in the near future as up to Sunday, the number of hotspots have reduced to just three from 162. The Riau Haze Disaster Mitigation Task Force has been cooperating with several parties to keep extinguishing the fire.
However, Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) executive director Abtnego Tarigan said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's response to Riau haze is late. "It's very late because the haze has engulfed Riau and other provinces since weeks ago," he uttered.
According to Abetnego, forest fires and haze happen every year. Last year, the haze reached Malaysia and Singapore. Now, the haze has obstructed flights and deteriorated the health of Riau, West Sumatra and North Sumatra citizens.
Abetnego said the Riau provincial government has coordinated but has generated no results. WALHI has urged the government to review plantation business permits in Riau and its surroundings as plantation corporates are one of the problems that cause the forest fires.
AYU PRIMA SANDI | BUNGA MANGGIASIH
