Jakarta, Oct. 9 -- Deputy Environment Minister Diaz Hendropriyono has called for continued peatland rewetting in drought-affected areas of South Sumatra to prevent forest and land fires.

"We need to raise groundwater levels in peatlands experiencing drought by constructing canal blocks," Diaz said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Friday.

"For canals with insufficient water, we will draw water from nearby rivers using an intake system and channel it into canals in fire-prone concession areas with centrifugal pumps," he said.

Diaz made the remarks while inspecting fire suppression operations in Palembang, South Sumatra, on October 7.

He stressed the need to strengthen preventive measures, including the construction of canal blocks to...