Re: PSI Index 290 @ 9pm 19 June 2013
Indonesia has decided NOT to induce rain after all
JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - As haze from forest fires in Sumatra wrecks havoc on the prosperous city-state of Singapore, Indonesian government has suggested an imminent downpour is the only way to bring an end to the crisis.
Forestry Ministry general secretary Hadi Daryanto said on Thursday that Indonesia could not guarantee that necessary measures taken to combat the fires would be effective without a miracle in the form of a heavy downpour.
Mr Hadi quoted a forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which predicted a downpour on June 28.
Should the rain occur, Mr Hadi said, it would mark the end of a 10-day cyclone that had caused the wind to blow to Singapore and Malaysia. The rain would also end the weather anomalies that had made it difficult for the authorities to battle the fires, mostly centered in Riau province.
"We have considered creating artificial rain to put out the fires, but that would take two weeks. So we've decided to leave it in the hands of nature. And let's just pray for that," said Mr Hadi.
"If there is no downpour then the haze could last for weeks, or even months, as we try to generate artificial rain," said Mr Hadi.
The ministry, which is responsible for preventing and combating forest fires across the archipelago, has used water bombing and deployed its special force of firefighters to extinguish fires in Riau.
Despite the difficulties, Mr Hadi said the ministry did not see any immediate need for assistance from other countries, saying that Indonesia had "adequate funds and equipment to counter the flames".