TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Riau governor says 20% of hotspots inside concession areas
Change Size
Officers hose down land after a forest fire in a concession area in Tulung Selapan, Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra, last year. (JP/Jerry Adiguna )
R
iau Governor Arsyadjuliandi Rachmad has said 20 percent of hot spots that led to fires affecting forests and plantations in the province this month were located inside concession areas.
“With regard to the fires inside the concession areas, we are investigating whether or not plantation firms are responsible for the hot spots,” Arsyad said as quoted by Antara news agency at the Environment and Forestry Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday, adding that the Riau Police were in charge of the investigation into possible breaches of the law.
According to Arsyad, a joint taskforce has intensified monitoring of the hot spots and efforts to put out them as quickly as possible, including through water bombing.
Meanwhile, Riau joint taskforce chief Brig. Gen. Nurendi claimed that the number of hot spots in the province had reduced significantly over the past three years.
“Currently, the fires affect 1,000 hectares of land in contrast to the impacted 2,000 hectares in 2015 and 23,000 hectares in 2014,” Nurendi said. (dmr)
