Indonesia: Minister reviews forest fires during Eid holidays

Sri Muryono Antara 17 Jun 18;

A number of Greenpeace activists try to put out fires in Riau Province (Antara photo/FB Anggoro/Koz/nz/09.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar took to the field to monitor the handling of forest and land fires in the country during Eid Fitr or Lebaran holidays.

"In addition to monitoring the reports of forest and land fires (karhutla) every day, I monitored the handling of karhutla yesterday on plane to some areas," said Siti Nurbaya in a written statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

The air monitoring conducted on the weekend or the second day of Eid Fitr covers some of the fire prone points of forest and land in Sumatra.

Siti Nurbaya expressed her gratitude for the dedication of Manggala Agni (forest fire control team) members of the Environment and Forestry (KLHK). The team is composed of members of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), BPBD (Local disaster mitigation agency), Care for Fires Community (MPA) and related parties who tirelessly tackled karhutla during the dry season as it is today.
Although it is still in the atmosphere of Lebaran holidays, yet the field team is still working hard to keep Indonesia smoke-free. "I am very grateful to them," she said.

In recent days, said Siti Nurbaya, Manggala Agni, Daops (operation area) Aceh intensively has conducted karhutla handling in South Aceh assisted by Manggala Agni of Sibolangit Daops.

"Thank God, fires at several points have been put out. Karhutla in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, was also successfully overcome, but once I still ask the Manggala Agni to remain vigilant," he said.

Editor: Andi Abdussalam