Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has been working hard to extinguish the forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands by conducting water bombings and cloud seeding operations, according to President Joko Widodo.

As part of the efforts to end the haze disaster, he also urged the people in Martapura, the capital city of Banjar District, South Kalimantan Province, on Thursday, to stop setting fires to clear land.

Speaking to the people of South Kalimantan after performing the Idul Adha prayer at the Al Karomah grand mosque during his visit to the province, he affirmed that the slash-and-burn land clearing practices should be stopped not only in the yards of houses but also in plantation companies concession areas and roadsides.

At the mosque, President Widodo also donated a big cow to be sacrificed on Idul Adha, or the Day of Sacrifice, which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world.

The president emphasized that his visit to South Kalimantan Province was aimed at coping with the forest and land fires and the haze that had disrupted the peoples lives.

Cloud seeding operations in the provinces of South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau in Sumatra Island have resulted in rainfall due to the presence of clouds, but in Kalimantan, the situation was different as there were no clouds, he pointed out.

President Widodo and his entourage continued their trip to Central Kalimantan to observe the authorized parties efforts to put out forest and land fires in Kapuas and Pulang Pisau areas.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015