NREB issues warning against open burning
KUCHING: The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) has warned the public and industries operating in Sarawak not to carry out open burning.
It said in a statement yesterday that open burning is a major contributor to the deterioration of air quality which can be detrimental to public health and can affect the state’s economy.
“Based on NREB’s monitoring records, a total of 252 hotspots were detected from January to July 2021, compared to 201 hotspots in 2020 and 280 in 2019 for the same period.
“This number is expected to continue to increase if the hot and dry weather conditions continue until mid-September,” the statement said.
It said the increase in open burning cases was due to subsistence farming and clearing of land for commercial agriculture as well as forest and bush fires.
NREB, however, said the air pollutant index (API) in Sarawak between January and July had been consistently ‘good’ or ‘moderate’.
“Therefore, local residents and the industries, especially that in the agricultural sector, are advised to adopt the ‘zero open burning’ approach and use more environmentally friendly methods such as composting, mulching and others for the purpose of biomass waste disposal of vegetation,” it said.
Anyone found guilty of illegal open burning can be charged under Section 30 (1)(a) and 30 (2) of the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, 2019 which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of five years or both or a compound of RM1,000 for each day of the open burning.
NREB emphasised that efforts to combat and stop open burning are the shared responsibility of all parties.
It appealed to the public to report any open burning activities or incidents immediately to the nearest NREB offices or the NREB Whatsapp Hotline at 013-7595866.
The confidentiality of the report is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of Section 38: Protection of Whistleblower Confidentiality, Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, 2019.