PSI hits 64, the highest level recorded so far this year
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 17 Sep 09;
THE haze worsened yesterday, with the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) peaking at 64 - the highest level reached this year.
Although still in the moderate range, yesterday's air quality deteriorated from the previous day's, when the PSI - a measure of air quality - was 55. Visibility improved in the evening, thanks to a heavy downpour.
Satellite pictures yesterday showed 66 hot spots in Sumatra, spread across the provinces of Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra. A further four hot spots were counted in Kalimantan, although the weatherman said visibility there was impaired by cloud cover.
The National Environment Agency said that although slightly hazy conditions are expected over the next two days, showers are also anticipated and they could help alleviate the situation.
It also said that there was no need for people to take special precautions when air quality was in the moderate range.
A prolonged dry spell over Kalimantan and Sumatra has resulted in more burning being carried out to clear forest, with the fires producing the acrid pall that has blown across the region.
The situation may persist until the end of the year and is exacerbated by the development of an El Nino weather pattern bringing hotter and drier weather over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
As Singapore braces itself for smog-filled days ahead, organisers of major events being staged here are on alert in case the situation worsens.
First up is the Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix over the weekend of Sept 25 to 27, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in November.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said in Parliament on Tuesday that the haze situation would come under greater international scrutiny with these events being hosted here.
A spokesman for the Singapore GP said it would consult the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile - the world governing body of motorsport - and government agencies before making any collective decision regarding the event.
'If the haze causes visibility, public health or operational issues, the primary concern will always be the safety and wellbeing of participants both on and off the track,' she added, without elaborating.
Organisers expect crowds of 83,000 on each of the three days.
The chairman of Apec Singapore 2009's organising committee, Ms Koh Lin-Net, said a medical team would be stationed at all official events to attend to any delegate affected by the haze.
All Apec meetings are held indoors, she added, while contingency plans for outdoor social events will be activated if necessary.
More than 15,700 participants are expected to attend 123 events planned for the summit. Of these, 10,000 will be foreign visitors.
Meanwhile in Jambi, the head of the Natural Resources Conservation Centre Didy Wurdjanto told The Straits Times that a spell of drought stretching for more than a week has led to an intensification of slash-and-burn farming. 'The long dry days are what convinces people to use fires to clear the land,' he said.
He also said that government officials had stepped up enforcement on forest burning, and that under new regulations initiated last month, fire starters in Jambi can be fined up to 10 billion rupiah (S$1.4million) and jailed for up to 10 years.
'We are not playing around. If there is any evidence of fires set up by the district heads or businessmen, they will be prosecuted.'
