Strategies to tackle haze woes to be formulated on Tuesday — Uggah
MIRI, Aug 5 — A more effective Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be formulated next Tuesday to prevent the current haze situation, which was mainly caused by open burning activities, from worsening.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah the National Haze Committee would meet on Tuesday in Putrajaya, together with all relevant departments, to discuss the implementation of the SOP.
"The SOP will be implemented to enable open fires to be put out more quickly," he told reporters after visiting a forest fire site in Tudan here today.
Uggah said the meeting was a part of the preparations to face the hot and dry weather which expected to persist until next month.
Meanwhile, the minister said the forest fire, involving an area of 12 hectares, was expected to be put out completely later today.
"The fire started yesterday and I was informed by the Department of Environment that the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in here, especially near the Miri Industrial Training Institute, had reached 159 today and it is the only area in the country with unhealthy air quality.
"We are also in the midst of investigating the actual cause of fire and tracking down the culprits responsible for the forest fire in Tudan," he said.
Uggah said so far, legal action had been taken against three individuals and two companies in Miri for carrying out open burning activities without permit.
"Open burning is still prohibited and stern action will be taken against any quarters who carry out the activities," he added. — Bernama
