Dry and Hazy Days are Back

El Nino is here again. We are in for more hot days. It was reported that in the STAR yesterday that Malaysia experiences a hot and dry season in June, July and August with temperatures ranging between 33 °C to 34 °C. However, with the El Nino phenomenon, temperatures can rise by an additional 3 °C.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Datuk Douglas Uggah said with such hot and dry conditions, any open burning activity could worsen the air quality.

It was showed that there was an increase in the number of hot spots in Sumatra and Kalimantan with 996 and 108 hot spots respectively.

With the dry spell with less rain, comes the warning to use less water as the water levels at the dams are receding. So every one is urged to use less water.

City folks must not wash themselves too often nor wash their cars using water hoses but are advised to use pails instead. To water the plants, it is best to recycle the water you use washing the vegetables and stuff at the kitchen sink.

Today I was annoyed to see a motorist throwing a lit cigarette butt from his car. Didn't he realize that in the hot weather that was a dangerous thing to do? In the past, lots of bush fires have been caused by reckless motorists in this way.

The public must be warned that the Department of Environment is increasing air and land surveillance to monitor open burning activities. Enforcement on smoke, gas and dust emissions from motor vehicles and industries will also be stepped up.

So, buck up everyone.Go check your vehicles. Contribute to a healthy air quality by maintaining your vehicles to reduce black smoke.

Industries are also required to comply with standard environmental rules. They must refrain from discharging their effluents directly to the atmosphere or waterways.

It is time for everyone to care for the atmosphere that we live in. Pity the young children with respiratory problems and the old folks with less efficient body systems. Every time there is a haze, there will be more people at the hospitals with respiration problems.

Let's all be more responsible-use less water, recycle the water, service your vehicles regularly, don't litter and do not contribute to open burning during these hazy and dry days and beyond.