By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has sealed off about 50 companies across eight provinces after forest and land fire hotspots were identified within their operational areas.
Deputy Environment Minister Diaz Hendropriyono said the action was part of law enforcement efforts, with authorities monitoring the companies to determine whether they were involved in the fires.
“We are monitoring these companies and 50 have now been sealed off. This means there were fires there, and if it is proven that the companies were involved, sanctions will be imposed,” he said, according to Antara news agency on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Forestry Ministry said 1,037 high-confidence hotspots were detected nationwide as of 9.05 pm local time on Tuesday, down 400 or about 27.8 per cent, from 1,437 a day earlier, based on data from its forest and land fire monitoring system, SiPongi.
According to the ministry's latest social media update, of the six priority provinces, Central Kalimantan recorded 266 hotspots, South Sumatra 245, South Kalimantan 72, Jambi 62, West Kalimantan 43 and Riau 15.
The ministry said hotspot numbers declined in Central, West and South Kalimantan, while increases were detected in South Sumatra, Jambi and Riau, requiring continued intensive monitoring.
It said joint teams continued patrols, field inspections and firefighting operations, supported by water bombing, aerial patrols and weather modification operations where required.
Separately, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni urged communities, farmers and companies to remain vigilant against forest and land fires until late October or early November, saying natural rainfall was now expected to arrive later than previously forecast.
Citing an updated forecast from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Raja Juli said natural rainfall previously expected in early October could be delayed until late October or even early November.
“This means the very strong El Nino, the same El Nino as in 2015, will remain with us for about another one and a half months,” he said, according to Antara.
-- BERNAMA