Haze Mitigation in Riau Spends Rp164 Billion
Haze Mitigation in Riau Spends Rp164 Billion
04 April 2014
published by http://en.tempo.co
Indonesia — Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPD), said that the Riau haze disaster mitigation operation had cost Rp 164 billion in total, higher that last years operation that costs Rp 103 billion.
According to Sutopo, renting Kamov and Sirkovsky helicopters from Russia to extinguish the fire incur the highest cost. Other funds were used for weather engineering program and making artificial rain. “The funds were also used to buy fuel for Cassa and Hercules, salt seeding and logistics for firemen,” he said.
Sutopo believed that there was no misuse of funds because the funds are monitored directly by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP).
Sutopo also denied allegations claiming that haze disaster mitigation in Riau is an annual project for the government. “This is not a project. We don’t want this disaster to always occur because it causes misery for the people.”
