Real time reading of haze by Sept 8?

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians will soon be able to see real time readings of the haze as compared to the current 24-hour average Air Pollutant Index (API).
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the proposal to introduce the PM10 (floating particles smaller than 10 microns) reading would be brought up at the next Cabinet session, and if approved, would be implemented on Sept 8.
"The National Haze and Dry Weather Committee has agreed that the real time and API readings be put on the Meteorological Department's website," he said, adding that the matter will be raised in Cabinet.
If Cabinet approves, he said, it will start from Sept 7," he told reporters after chairing the committee's 2nd Meeting for Year 2016.
The current API reading posted on the department's website is that of a 24-hour average cycle consisting of five air pollutant particles.
On when Malaysia would adopt the PM2.5 measurement as used by Singapore, Wan Junaidi said: "Most likely by mid-2017. We want to upgrade our system from PM10 to PM2.5 simultaneously. We don't want readings at some places to be using the PM2.5 measurement while the rest still PM10,"said Wan Junaidi.
PM2.5 could provide a more accurate measurement of the haze index due to its ability to measure fine particles less than 2.5 microns.
Wan Junaidi said the ministry predicts this year's haze situation in the country to be relatively better as compared to last year due to the nation having experienced the dry El Nino period earlier this year and Indonesian government taking efforts to curb it.
"I met with their minister, and he assured that some 3,000 security personnel have been deployed in the event of an open fire. Even Indonesia's president Joko Widodo has ordered that land concessions not be given to companies involved in causing haze," he said.
As to low water levels at several dams in the country, Wan Junaidi said the immediate action now was to install tube wells to pump water from the earth into the dams.
"The tube wells are able to pump as much as 25,000 gallons of water at one time. If we can install three or four of them at one dam, I'm confident we can address the issue," he added.