SERIAN: The cloud seeding operation in Sarawak will be carried out the earliest by this Thursday, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas yesterday.
In view of the worsening haze situation, it will be done mainly over Kuching and Sri Aman which are the badly affected areas.
“Looking at the wind direction, it is anticipated that the cloud seeding can be done on Sept 12. But again, it depends on the availability of the clouds in the affected areas,” he told reporters after attending the state-level 16th Yang di Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s official birthday celebration at SJK (C) Chung Hua Serian Multipurpose Hall yesterday.
Uggah, who is the state Disaster Management Committee chairman, added it was up to school headmasters and principals to close the schools in Kuching and Sri Aman should the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceed 200.
“According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), schools must be closed when the API reaches 200 and above,” he said.
He said of 11am yesterday, the API readings were already at the very unhealthy level of 245.
“On top of that, the federal government is sending 500,000 face masks to Kuching and they will be arriving this afternoon,” he added.
Uggah also urged the federal government to discuss with the government of Indonesia ways and means to reduce the hot spots in Kalimantan.
“Few days ago, there were 1041 hot spots in Kalimantan. Today, they have fallen to 641.
“But according to the weather forecast, the hot weather may remain or continue for the rest of the week,” he said.
Uggah reminded the people to take care because of effects of haze on their health.
