Selangor Journal
State executive councillor for environment Hee Loy Sian during a press conference after visiting an open burning site involving recycled waste tires at Sritama Jetty, Telok Panglima Garang in Pulau Carey, Banting, on June 29, 2021. — Picture by BERNAMA

Thermal drone to be used to detect open burning in Revolusi Hijau, Johan Setia — Exco

SHAH ALAM, Aug 13 — The Department of Environment (DOE) will use thermal drone technology to detect open burning during the night in the Revolusi Hijau area, Johan Setia, Klang near here.

Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs Permanent Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the use of the technology was among recommendations made at the Environment Permanent Committee Meeting, which he chaired yesterday, to discuss solutions to address issues on open burning in the area.

“Most areas in the country are experiencing hot and dry weather due to the low rainfall following the southwest monsoon season which is expected to end in mid-September.

“Several incidents of bush fires in the Revolusi Hijau area, Johan Setia, have caused a deterioration in air quality, as well as haze, in the vicinity since July 18 to 29,” he said in a statement today.

Hee said the meeting also decided to mobilise members of the Malaysian Volunteer Department, in addition to patrols by existing enforcement agencies, to carry out daily monitoring in the Johan Setia area and to report any open burning activities to the authorities for further action.

He said other recommendations decided at the meeting included preparing a proposal paper for the construction of an observation tower to detect open burning in the area by the Selangor State Disaster Management Unit, implementation of the Sustainable Land Management Programme towards zero burning, which is targeted at farmers registered with the Agriculture Department and empowering the fire volunteer squad under the Johan Setia Village Community Management Council (MPKK) with the collaboration of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.

“The assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police will also be requested to carry out arrest and patrol in the Johan Setia area to create a ‘perception of being caught (POBC)’ among farmers so that they will not carry out open burning,” he added.

— Bernama

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