Sunday, September 20, 2009

Just after arrival: Haze in Singapore sky

Forest fires set by Borneo dam developer contributes to haze in Malaysia, Singapore

The developer of a massive hydroelectric project in Borneo plans to set fire to thousands hectares of logged over rainforest in the dam area, contributing to polluting haze already blanketing the region and raising the risk of forest fires in adjacent areas, reports a local environmental group.

The Sarawak Conservation Action Network (SCANE) has learned that Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Bakun Hydroelectric Power Dam project, is in the process of clear-cuting 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of rainforest set to be flooded by the dam. The remnants are being torched, in direct violation of Malaysia's laws against open burning.

Correction: Not for agriculture, but for a dam.

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