The Star 14 May 11;
KUCHING: The Sarawak Natural Resources and Enviroment Board (NREB), a state-owned environmental protection and preservation agency, is now on alert over the possible return of haze in view of the prolonged hot and dry season.
NREB controller Peter Sawal said NREB offices in Kuching, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang had been directed to monitor any activity, especially open burning, in the urban and rural areas that might cause a haze.
"At the moment there will be no blanket ban on open burning in Sarawak but if the weather continues to be drier, then we will take immediate measures," he told Bernama, here Saturday.
Peter said one of the protocols that needed to be adhered to when imposing a blanket ban on open burning was that the Air Pollution Index (API) reading must reach an unhealthy level of above 100.
"As of now, the API is still below 100 but with the weather expected to get humid in the coming weeks, the NREB will monitor (the situation) closely," he said.
Peter, however, said the ban on open burning would be based on a case-to-case basis depending on weather conditions in their respective areas.
"If the weather gets drier, even those who had the permission from NREB to conduct open burning will be required to stop their activities as soon as possible," he said - Bernama
Sarawak on the alert as dry spell prolongs
New Straits Times 14 May 11;
KUCHING: The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), a state-owned environmental protection and preservation agency, is on the alert for haze in view of the prolonged hot and dry season.
Bernama reports that NREB controller Peter Sawal said NREB offices here, in Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang had been directed to monitor any activity, especially open burning, that might cause haze.
"At the moment, there is no blanket ban on open burning in Sarawak but if the weather continues to be dry, we will take immediate steps."
Sawal said imposing a blanket ban on open burning would only be considered if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading was above 100.
"As of now, the API is below 100 but with the weather expected to get more humid in the coming weeks, we will monitor the situation closely."
He said the ban on open burning would be carried out on a case-to-case basis depending on weather conditions.
"If the weather gets worse, even those who have the NREB's permission to conduct open burning will be required to stop their activities."
Meanwhile, Minderjeet Kaur reports that the air quality nationwide remained at "good" and "moderate" levels yesterday for the second time this week, with isolated thunderstorms and rain.
Sporadic rain is also expected next week.
The downpour three days ago helped clear the hazy skyline which had enveloped most cities since the start of this week. The temperature dropped from 36.2oC a few days ago to 33.5oC yesterday.
People were also breathing in better air quality with API readings of below 70 compared with 90 and above earlier this week.
Johor and Bukit Rambai in Malacca recorded an API of 70 while the rest of the country recorded readings of 65 and below.
Tanjung Malim, which recorded an unhealthy API of above 100 earlier in the week, had a reading of 34 yesterday, while Miri recorded the lowest at 16.
According to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry website, air quality readings nationwide ranged from 30 to 60.
(API readings of 50 and below are categorised as healthy; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; and, above 300, hazardous.)
The Meteorological Department's website said isolated thunderstorms and rain continued up to last night with a maximum temperature of 34oC, which dropped to between 25oC and 27oC at night in most parts of the country.
The department had earlier said hot temperatures were expected to last for the next few weeks with sporadic showers.
