By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, April 24: To avoid a repeat of last year’s haze at all cost, every relevant agencies in Miri division have been mobilised.
According to Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Lee Kim Shin the authorities including Zone 6 Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sarawak (DID), Natural Resoucres and Environment Board Sarawak (NREB), Department of Environment (DOE), Rela and police will be mobilised to monitor and mitigate bush fires especially in the peat soil areas.
The peat soil areas cover about 8,000 hectares in Kuala Baram, Tudan and Permyjaya.
“We must prepare ahead to contain bush fires from recurrence,” said Lee, who is also minister in-charge of Miri Division Disaster Management Committee (MDDMC).
“With the large size of the peat soil in the northern part of the city covering Kuala Baram, Tudan and Permyjaya, we must look into these areas for bush fires because if these areas burn, it will affect the whole of Miri,” opined Lee today after conducting a brief visit to Tudan Watch Tower here.
He revealed, at the moment, Miri NREB is using drones to monitor open burning hotspots within the area to tackle the annual haze problem.
He also instructed the relevant authorities to clear and build more fire breaks within the areas.
“Tube wells within the areas will be activate with immediate effect,” he said.
Lee also sought public cooperation not to do open burning during this period as Miri is entering the dry season.
He said, open burning culprits will face heavy penalties if they are caught with the activities by the authorities.
“For this division, DOE has opened three investigation papers in connection with open burning activities and offenders could face heavy penalties up to RM500,000 or five years imprisonment or both upon conviction under the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” he said. — DayakDaily
