The Department of Environment (DOE), together with several other agencies, is intensifying a programme for prevention of peat soil fires as an early preparation to confront the hot and dry weather.

pkr elizabeth wong visits swamp peat fire kuala langat 080808 04 The areas prone to peat soil fires were Pahang, Johor, Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said in a statement today.

 

“The programme includes the construction of check dams and water wells to control the water level in peat soil areas and also a watchtower for continuous monitoring of open burning,” he said.

The DOE was conducting the programme with the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Mineral and Geosciences department, Peninsula Forestry Department and Sabah and Sarawak Forestry departments.

The statement also said that the Meteorological Department expected the El Nino phenomenon to return to neutral from the end of April, causing the weather to return to normal or become drier in several areas.  

- Bernama