Continuing To Experience The Spike In Hotspots, BNPB Asks The South Kalimantan Provincial Government To Optimize The Performance Of The Land Task Force

Karhutla di Kecamatan Landasan Ulin, Banjarbaru, Kalsel, Sabtu 24 Juni 2023 malam. (ANTARA-Bayu Pratama S)

SOUTH KALIMANTAN - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asked the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) to optimize the performance of the ground task force (task force) again to tackle forest and land fires (karhutla).

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said the ground task force was the main key that had a role to play in preventing hotspots from spreading considering that South Kalimantan experienced a spike in hotspots in July as many as 3,045, then the August period recorded 19,519 hotspots.

"The ground task force must be more diligent in monitoring the hotspots of forest and land fires, if the regions need help please coordinate, we will definitely help," said Suharyanto, Thursday, September 21, confiscated by Antara.

Suharyanto said that the South Kalimantan and South Sumatra regions are the most prominent provinces of forest and land fires from four other provinces that are designated as vulnerable areas, namely West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Riau, and Jambi.

"I ask for help not to let President Jokowi come to South Kalimantan just because of the forest and land fire smoke, especially since several times the smog has started hampering the aircraft flight schedule," said Suharyanto.

He revealed that in his spare time this afternoon he together with the South Kalimantan Forkopimda participated in monitoring forest and land fires using helicopters, from air monitoring, it was seen that there were many hotspots in Banjarbaru City and its surroundings.

Based on data compiled by BNPB last August, indications that the area of forest and land fires in South Kalimantan has reached more than 24,0000 hectares.

He asked the South Kalimantan Provincial Government to optimize the existence of the ground task force as the front gate for the prevention of forest and land fires, for that, he said that this forest and land fires should be a serious concern for all parties.

Furthermore, Suharyanto said that next week BNPB will increase the assistance of two water bombing helicopters to maximize the control of forest and land fires in South Kalimantan, bringing a total of eight forest and land fire control helicopters.

Then on September 23, 24, and 28, the task force will implement artificial rain technology in the South Kalimantan region as an operational assistance in tackling forest and land fires, this is based on coordination with the BMKG which states that on that date the thickness and humidity of the clouds has the potential to bring artificial rain.

According to him, the artificial rain technology is still needed because the dry season has not ended until next November.

"Let's be more vigilant and careful, I also ask for help in enforcing forest and land fires without compromise, this is President Jokowi's order," said Suharyanto.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor said the number of requests for assistance in dealing with forest and land fires using water bombing was not proportional to the number of available helicopters.

He stated that the local government (Pemda) has mobilized all available resources to tackle forest and land fires and drought in South Kalimantan.

He also admitted that the location of forest and land fires in peat areas is quite difficult for the task force to overcome, so according to him, the presence of BNPB in South Kalimantan today holding a coordination meeting with the forest and land fires task force is very important to find the right solution to complete the forest and land fires disaster.

"We have made various efforts to overcome forest and land fires and drought, such as mitigating the distribution of water from reservoirs to reservoirs, distributing clean water to people affected by drought, but we need collaboration together to overcome this disaster," said Sahbirin.