Polri Claims Smoke Haze in Pekanbaru Clear, These Facts Happen

News24xx.com - Not much different from the statement of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Human Rights (Menko Polhukam) Wiranto about the haze, the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Headquarters Inspector General Pol Iqbal also said the same thing.

He said if the smoke condition in Pekanbaru, Riau was not as reported by the mass media. At present, the smoke condition in Pekanbaru is good after handling it.

"There is a real situation in Pekanbaru and its surroundings, after 11:12 WIB all clear blue sky appears, meaning that it is not completely true what the media conveyed," Iqbal said as quoted by Okezone.com, Friday, September 20, 2019.

He claimed if the community was able to freely move as usual. Children who were previously closed are now back at school.

"The entire community is active as usual at schools, who worship in economics, even at night out in the parks a lot crowded. So it's not entirely true that the smoke was very emergency there in Pekanbaru," he said.

So, is M Iqbal's statement true?

But the fact is, because of the thick haze, the City Government of Pekanbaru through the Pekanbaru Education Office dismissed school students ranging from PAUD, TK, SD and SMP levels equal to the City of Pekanbaru, again extended by the city government until 21 September 2019. Likewise with SMA equivalent and extended off by the Riau Provincial Government.

Not only schools are closed, For civil servants or State Civil Apparatus (ASN) who are pregnant are allowed to not enter the office. The dispensation was caused by severe haze and unhealthy air quality.

Deputy Mayor of Pekanbaru (Vice Mayor) Ayat Cahyadi said, the dispensation only applies to ASN Pemko Pekanbaru which is pregnant. For other civil servants who are not pregnant are asked to continue working as usual. It's just that outdoor work is limited due to the current haze.

In addition, today, Friday, September 20, 2019, the reading on the screen of the Air Pollution Standards Index Board (ISPU) in Pekanbaru Mayor's Office changed. This time the ISPU screen shows the air quality in the capital city of Riau Province has risen to the level of 'Very Unhealthy'. Whereas the day before the screen on the ISPU Board showed the 'Unhealthy' category.

Suddenly this matter became the talk of Pekanbaru residents. "This is chaotic. Air pollution is very unhealthy. Where do you want to evacuate?" said Ahmad, a resident of Garuda Sakti, Pekanbaru.

Ahmad, a private employee, is still active as usual. Because the office does not dismiss employees, it's just recommended to wear a mask so as not to be exposed to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI).

Ahmad was confused about where he wanted to flee, because his hometown was not near. "My village is in Palembang, so it is far and heavy in the cost if I want to flee to the village. See what will happen next, what will be the place of friends in West Sumatra," said Ahmad.

In addition, based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Pekanbaru Station, the two regions in Riau namely Pekanbaru and Pelalawan have visibility below 1 KM.

"In Pelalawan the visibility reaches 400 M and the city of Pekanbaru the visibility reaches 600 M," said the Head of BMKG Pekanbaru Station, Sukisno, Friday, September 20, 2019.

Sukisno added, for Rengat City, Indragiri Hulu Regency (Inhu) the visibility reached 1 KM and Dumai City the visibility reached 1.5 KM. The four conditions are smoky.