TheStarOnline - JAKARTA: With less than average rainfall forecast until early next month, there is a possibility of more land and forest fires during the current dry season, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).

The Jakarta-based Asean Secretariat urged Asean member countries to continue to remain vigilant and intensify their efforts to suppress such fires to address the transboundary haze pollution.

It said in a press release here yesterday that the Panel of Asean Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment had been put on standby for deployment to the affected areas.

In addition to Indonesia's efforts in cloud seeding, Singapore was ready to provide a C130 aircraft to help Indonesia carry out cloud seeding operations in Sumatra, while Malaysia was willing to consider providing necessary support for such operations, it said.

As for the haze which started with the dry season in July, the statement said that for the first time, Asean had sent a panel of experts to Riau, Sumatra, where a significant number of hotspots has been observed.

The panel, there from Aug 9 to 11, concluded then that land and forest fires had been brought under control by the Indonesian authorities and there was no requirement for outside assistance.

The statement noted that since July, there had been a significant increase in hotspots, particularly in Sumatra and Borneo, and several parts of the region had reported sporadic periods of moderate to unhealthy air quality.

However, the situation was under control, mainly due to measures taken by the Asean member countries, it said.

Guided by the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the countries had activated bilateral and regional mechanisms to facilitate timely exchange of information and offer assistance.

Indonesia has also taken various actions, including ground checking of hotspots in Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan and South Sumatra to immediately suppress the fires.

As many as 20 private companies suspected of involvement in land clearing activities using fires were now being investigated, and Indonesian authorities have also arrested several farmers and community groups for their involvement in slash-and-burn activities, which have been outlawed, it added.