As haze blankets Singapore and the region, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has sent legal notices to seven companies in Indonesia.
They are believed to own land from which fires that caused the haze originated, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in a press conference on Friday (16 Oct).
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Since the haze started, NEA has been “actively tracking” the hotspots and smoke plumes from fires in the region to identify the companies responsible.
This involves analysing satellite imagery and meteorological data and drawing information from concession maps, meteorological data and satellite imagery, not all of which are under Singapore’s jurisdiction and must be obtained from open sources.
So far, indications show that the lands held via concessions by seven companies in Indonesia were the source of some of the haze experienced in Singapore.
According to NEA, they are:
An office of PT Bumi Andalas Permai in South Sumatra. Source: Google Maps
NEA has sent Preventive Measure Notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to the seven companies, NEA said.
They have been requested to:
The THPA came into force in 2014 and allows legal action to be taken against companies responsible for causing or contributing to haze pollution in Singapore. This can be done even if the companies’ activities take place overseas.
Singapore will continue monitoring the situation and how the seven companies respond to the notices, Ms Fu said.
Further action under the THPA might be taken “where warranted” based on the available information and evidence, she added.
The action may not be limited to the seven companies, she also noted, as NEA will issue notices to more companies and consider other measures under the THPA if they are shown to have originated haze-causing fires.
Source: gov.sg on Facebook
According to the THPA, an entity can be fined up to S$100,000 for every day or part of a day that there is haze pollution in Singapore as a result of its conduct.
Entities that fail to comply with Preventive Measure Notices may be fined up to S$50,000 additionally for every day or part of a day that it fails to comply with the notice.
During the press conference, Ms Fu reiterated that Singapore is prepared to assist Indonesia with firefighting efforts, as well as other measures such as cloud-seeding support.
Noting media reports that they are open to assistance, she communicated with Indonesian Minister for Environment Pak Jumhur again on Friday, offering assistance.
“I have yet to hear from him,” she added, pledging to continue to engage them on this.
Ms Fu warned Singaporeans that the haze may persist “for some time”, saying it might last “a few more weeks”.
She expects the situation to improve at the end of October or early November, as the inter-monsoon period begins and winds are less likely to bring the haze to Singapore.
In early December, when the Northeast Monsoon starts, haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan will blow away from Singapore, she added.
In the meantime, all 37 haze vending machines will be deployed by Friday night, and all community clubs have started mask distribution, with about 10% of eligible Singaporeans already collecting their N95 masks.
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Featured image adapted from gov.sg on Facebook and Wikimedia Commons.