Op rooms to monitor haze

Star: KUCHING: The Sarawak government has set up operation rooms in four divisions in the state where unhealthy air quality has been recorded to monitor the situation.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the operation rooms were under the Resident's Office in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Bintulu.
As of 5pm yesterday, Kuching recorded the highest air pollutant index (API) reading of 127, followed by Samarahan (117), and Bintulu (111).
The API level in Petrajaya went from 99 to 107 by 5pm.
The API reading at Sri Aman, which recorded an unhealthy 114 in the morning, came down to 80 by 5pm, according to the Department of Environment's website.
Dr Chan, who is also state disaster relief committee chairman, said 22 hotspots were detected in Sarawak yesterday and 527 in Kalimantan.
“The wind direction is still south-westerly, while the weather for the next few weeks is forecast to be drier than average. If the wind doesn't change direction and we don't get any rain, the situation could get worse,” he told The Star.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Rivers Board issued a directive to boat and ship operators to take additional precautions when navigating under the current hazy conditions.
“Visibility is affected by the haze and it can be quite dangerous. Vessels should reduce speed, and they are required to carry and use navigation lights, signs, sounds and warnings,” its chairman Dr Stephen Rundi said.
“If weather and visibility do not permit movement, operators are advised to postpone their trips.”
He warned that the board would take action against those who did not comply with the directive.
Offenders can be fined RM2,000 for a first offence and RM5,000 and br jailed two years for a subsequent offence under the Sarawak Rivers Traffic Regulations.
Department Of Environment (DOE) deputy director general Lee Heng Keng said smallholders and indigenous farmers, who were clearing land, started some of the fires, but these were permitted and were being monitored by the department.
According to the API indication used by the DOE, levels from 0-50 show good air quality, 51-100 moderate air quality, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy and over 301 hazardous.