Palembang, The Indonesia Post – The seriousness of the Governor of South Sumatra H Herman Deru (HD) is proven by continuing to make preparations in anticipation of drought and forest and land fires in his area during the 2023 dry season. In fact, HD has issued a Governor Decree (SK) regarding the establishment of a karhutla emergency alert and permits for Weather Modification Technology (TMC) in South Sumatra.
In addition, coordination with various parties such as the TNI, POLRI, BMKG, BPBD and the private sector continues to be massively carried out to anticipate karhutla.
This is in line with what was ordered by the Central Government to the Heads of Regions prone to Karhutla through the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, General TNI (Purn) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan through a Drought and Karhutla Disaster Preparedness Coordination Meeting which was attended virtually by the Governor of South Sumatra H Herman Deru
Luhut said that this year is predicted to be a neutral year for Indonesia after the occurrence of La Nina. Nevertheless, other disasters such as EI Nino are still likely to occur which can increase the number of hotspots, making it prone to karhutla. Because of that, he emphasized that the heads of regions prone to karhutla should issue an emergency alert status for a karhutla disaster and a permit to operate a TMC.
“TMC as one of the karhutla mitigation measures has been going well, and there has been an increase in rainfall of up to 193.5 mm (181.25%)’ from the BMKG prediction to reduce hotspots. Besides being carried out by the government, TMC operations need to be encouraged to be carried out by the private sector ,” he explained. (mhn/ril)
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