By Dennis Wong | dennis@nst.com.my

PONTIANAK (INDONESIA): The haze is a yearly event for the people here and they have learned to ignore it.

The haze has reduced visibility to 3km at Sungai Rasau, 150km from Pontianak. NSTP Pix by Mohd Radzi Bujang

  Despite the heavy thunderstorm on Sunday evening, there was no difference with the haze situation in the West Kalimantan capital.

Visibility is still poor at less than 3km and a pungent burning smell still chokes the air.

Over the years, the locals have learned to ignore the haze and go about their daily chores.

With the current dry season, farmers are also taking the opportunity to start planting their padi for the second harvest.

“We have learned to live with it. Life still goes on,” said farmer Yenny Suroyo, 43.

As of yesterday, Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre satellite images showed moderate to dense haze over southern Borneo.

Most of the locals blamed the oil palm plantations for the haze.

“The authorities here seem like they are not doing anything to ease the situation. But after years of experiencing this, we have learned to ignore it,” said 29-year-old restaurant owner Karmawandy Jogya.

Last month, during the Asean Environment Ministers meeting in Bangkok, Indonesia was urged to ratify its stand in the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

At the meeting, one of the main issues discussed was the identification of companies responsible for causing the haze by the sharing of concession maps and cross-referencing hotspots’ location.

The agreement was signed 10 years ago by all Asean member countries to reduce the haze pollution in Southeast Asia.

It calls on signatory countries to take proactive steps in stopping haze pollution from land and forest fires within their territories, through strict regulations, heat-seeking satellites and firefighters’ training.

Indonesia is the only Asean state which has yet to endorse the agreement.

Currently satellite images shows hotspots are still obvious among the member states, especially in Sumatra and Kalimantan.