"We are coordinating with all parties concerned as a form of precautionary measure to tackle the dangers of this smoke," Maharani noted on the sidelines of the 2018 Asian Games Torch Event in Blitar, East Java, Friday.
According to the minister, as part of its efforts, the government is deploying water bombs or conducting "water bombing" operations in vulnerable areas since the fire spots are still small.
"God willing, the problem of smoke can be overcome, and the 2018 Asian Games would still run as planned in the arena that has been provided," the minister noted.
Chairman of the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee Erick Thohir has seconded Maharani`s statement.
Thohir has called on the people to not harbor concerns over the smoke from forest and land fires affecting the course of the 2018 Asian Games.
"The 2018 Asian Games committee is quite big, covering parties, such as the BNPB, Basarnas, TNI, and Polri. It has all come down to taking precautionary measures and tackling this smoke," Thohir remarked.
The threat of smoke from the recent forest and land fires on Sumatra Island arose in Ogan Komering Ilir District, South Sumatra. However, since the afternoon of Wednesday, (July 18), the fire spot has been successfully extinguished in the region.
The government continues to monitor the emergence of hotspots that appear in vulnerable provinces, such as South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau in order to address the issue early on.
Precautionary measures and efforts to put out forest and land fires are being taken daily by an integrated team involving the forest and land fire control brigades of Mandala Agni of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the National Armed Forces personnel, Police, private parties, community, and village officials.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is now on alert and has assigned Mandala Agni in 11 fire-prone provinces in 34 operating areas with 1,889 personnel. They have been equipped with facilities to control forest and land fires.
(EOO2/INE)
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
