Activities Report 1999 July Newsletter
Work Towards Cleaner Air
For the past week, there had been a hazy
condition in the morning which was washed off bythe rain in the evening.
This is mostly caused by the moist air and local air pollutants trapped
in the atmosphere.
The dry period will be here soon. It
may not be local pollutants this time. As the wind shifts, trans-boundary
pollutants may arise again. Satellites have spotted isolated hotspots across
Sumatera and Borneo. We hope that the Asean Haze Technical Task Force will
be ready in implementing the regional haze action plan to prevent the suffocating
1997 haze episode from happening again. This year may not be the
El-Nino year but we should not be complacent. If anything, we should be
more prepared this time from past experience.
Locally, although the Air Quality Index
had not been over the 50 limit for most areas, we must try our best to
minimize local air pollution. Local agencies must update and co-ordinate
the action plans ready for implementation at any time.
The upgraded guidelines for open burning
prepared by the Department of Environment should become a regulation
as it will act as a deterrent to uncontrolled open burning. There should
be more mass education and awareness for the public and effective enforcement
to prevent local pollution from aggravating a wider problem.
Letter To The Editor, Kuala Lumpur, 5 May 1999
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Created on 30th June 1999