Imbau Tak Bakar Lahan Saat Kemarau, Pemkot Palangka Raya Wanti-wanti Bencana Mist Smoke

Residents cycling in masks hit a smog on Jalan Ahmad Yani Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Sunday 15 September 2019. (ANTARA- Bayu P S).

The Palangka Raya City Government asked its people not to burn land during the dry season because it has the potential to trigger forest and land fires (karhutla) and smog disasters.

"I emphasize, especially for land owners who want to open their land for gardening, as well as other general people, so as not to burn land during the dry season," said Palangka Raya City Regional Secretary Hera Nugrahayu in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan Province (Kalteng), Tuesday, May 9, as reported by Antara.

He said that burning land during dry season, especially in peatlands, can trigger forest and land fires. Forest and land fires have had many negative impacts and losses to the environmental ecosystem, living things and various other sectors of life.

"Until now, there are still cases of land burning when the dry season arrives. To overcome this, we emphasize, land owners are required to open land without burning (PLTB)," said Hera.

He said the Palangka Raya City Government also continued to make various efforts to prevent and handle forest and land fires such as the implementation of joint patrols carried out intensively.

In addition, also checking the readiness of fire equipment facilities and infrastructure, issuing appeals and socialization related to forest and land fires alertness.

"And today the City Government, through the Environment Agency, also conducts socialization of forest and land fire prevention and training for the Unburned Land Opening (PLTB)," he said.

Through this activity, he hopes that it can increase knowledge about the importance of maintaining the sustainability of the land ecosystem from fire disasters that have an impact on environmental and health concerns.

Head of the Palangka Raya City Environment Agency, Ahmad Zaini, said that public awareness not to burn forests and land is the key to success in preventing forest and land fires.

"As we all know, the cause of forest and land fires itself is mostly caused by human actions. Therefore, raising awareness in protecting the environment from forest and land fires is very important," he said.