SEREMBAN, Sept 16 — The Negeri Sembilan Department of Environment (DOE) is stepping up ground-level monitoring, particularly on open burning activities, following worsening haze conditions in several districts in the state.
State DOE director Abdul Aziz Parmin said other sources being closely monitored included factories, quarries, motor vehicles, development projects, land clearing and any activities that could contribute to dust emissions and cause air pollution.
“The priority at the moment is to step up ground-level monitoring, particularly on open burning activities, without neglecting other sources that could contribute to dust or haze emissions,” he told Bernama when contacted here today.
He said the department had issued letters to all local authorities (PBTs) and District and Land Offices (PDT) throughout the state, urging them to step up enforcement against pollution sources.
Abdul Aziz said air quality in several areas in Negeri Sembilan was at an unhealthy level, with Nilai recording an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 172, Seremban (168) and Port Dickson (155) as of noon today.
He said all actions related to the haze situation would be referred to the National Haze Action Plan, while at the state level, the department would continuously update the State Disaster Management Committee on the situation.
On cloud seeding, Abdul Aziz said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) would coordinate the matter at the federal level based on current API readings and as necessary. — Bernama
