KOTA BARU: The installation of 12 tube wells and 25 check dams at high-risk districts in Kelantan has helped authorities to fight fires caused by open burning, especially during the dry spell.
The project, costing nearly RM3 million, was funded by the Federal Government.
Kelantan Department of Environment (DOE) director Hamzah Mohamad said nine of the tube wells were installed in Bachok and the remaining three in Pasir Mas. All the check dams were installed in Bachok.
He said each tube well cost about RM250,000, including maintenance, and supplies underground water to the drainage system.
Hamzah said the wells, which were installed since 2009, had helped officers from the Fire and Rescue Services Department to put out peat fires, especially from open burning activities.
“Water from the tube wells are also channeled to the check dams, and used by firemen to put out fires. It can be used in other fire prone areas as well,” he said, adding that the tube wells were maintained by the state Drainage and Irrigation Department.
Asked on open burning cases during the dry spell, Hamzah said the situation was not so critical as the Fire and Rescue Services Department had thus far managed to put it under control before it got worse.
He said the department had set up three teams to monitor open burning during the hot weather.
“The teams are deployed to the fire prone areas from 2pm to 10pm everyday to monitor the situation,” he said.
Hamzah also reminded the public and factory operators not to conduct open burning, or risk being slapped with a maximum compound of RM2,000, or a RM500,000 fine or jail of not more than five years, or both upon conviction.