REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) through Directorate of Climate Change Control cooperates with Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Air Force, Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), and private partners (PT. Sinar Mas dan PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper) launch weather modification technology (TMC) operation in Riau Province, Jambi, and South Sumatra, on Thursday (10/6) to control forest fire.

 During speech, Director General of Climate Change Control of Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Laksmi Dhewanthi, said that the TMC Operation has been carried out since few years ago. TMC is an effort to modify weather using artificial rain during forest fire. The artificial rain is expected to extinguish the fire.

Laksmi explained that government still put forward prevention effort so that TMC is only carried out during Emergency Alert status. The artificial rain is made by inducing potential clouds so that the rain pours in peatland area, tackles drought, fills the ponds, and extinguishes forest fire.

“In 2021, about four provinces set Emergency Alert status. They were Riau Province, West Kalimantan, Jambi, and South Sumatra. These provinces need extra effort to control forest fire so that it will not lead to smog disaster,” Laksmi said.

This TMC portrays real synergy in its operations. Some involving parties are KLHK, BPPT, BNPB, BMKG, Indonesian Air Force, BRGM, Local Government, private sectors, and citizens.

KLHK also intensively approach people using socialization and campaign of forest fire prevention, integrated patrols, Manggala Agni independent patrol, and empowerment of Paralegal MPA and public figure. Monitoring of hotspot is also immediately carried out during a hotspot appears so that it can be extinguished early.

During the event, Laksmi thanked for all the good cooperation of all parties. The cooperation allows TMC operation to be carried out sustainably and become a permanent effort to control forest fire in Indonesia.

The TMC operation is one of the breakthrough for the mitigation of forest fire. It is using technology that aims to keep moisture in the area, especially peatland, to minimize forest fire.

“Let’s keep the synergy to control forest fire for the sake of blue sky without smog in our beloved country,” Laksmi said.

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