REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANJARBAru -- Lengthy dry season has caused not only harvest failure in various areas but has also brought about greater inconvenience to the country.
Black haze of smokes from forest and bush fires disrupted flight schedules and caused breathing difficulties.
Schools in some areas have been closed as classrooms were filled with thick smokes and many people have suffered respiratory track infection.
"The clouds of smokes are thicker this morning filling the house ," complained Rahmat in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan on Monday.
The smokes from bush fires cut visibility to not more than 100 meters, and hurt the eyes especially for motorists, he said.
Motorists and pedestrians in the city have to wear maskers to prevent respiratory track infection.
Head of the Health Care Service of Banjarbaru Agus Widjaja asked the people in the city to wear maskers.
"The sun ray this morning could not help much in improving visibility with thick smokes continue to roll over the city," Agus said.
In South Sumatra, all health centers and hospitals are told to be ready to treat people suffering respiratory track infection caused by smokes.
Many people have suffered the disease over the past several days and more people are feared to need treatment, provincial administration secretary H Mukti Sulaiman said in Palembang, on Monday.
South Sumatra Governor H Alex Noerdin has also passed instruction to all heads of district areas to keep health centers remaining open in their respective areas.
"Health centers could remain open for 24 hours every day if necessary," Alex said.
The impact of lengthy drought had been bad in South Sumatra, with problem in irrigation and finding clean water, he said.
In Muntok , chief of the Bangka Barat police Adj. Sr. Comr Daniel Victor Tobing, said a suspect found guilty of setting forest on fire could be punished with 15 years jail term and a fine of Rp5 billion.
"The sanction against suspect in forest fire is quite heavy, therefore, we call on the people to no clear land for farm with fires," Daniel said.
Many farmers used the easy way of clearing land with fire in opening new farmlands, he said.
"It is much cheaper but the risk is high that we could not control the fire from spreading fast," he said.
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