Companies lax about environmental law<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim expressed on
\nMonday disappointment with the findings of the 2002 environmental
\naudit, which found that many companies had poor environmental
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
\"According to the 2002 audit, many companies have breached the
\nEnvironmental Law in managing their surroundings and their
\nwaste,\" he told reporters after a hearing with House of
\nRepresentatives Commission VIII for the environment.<\/p>\n
He declined to identify the companies, but said the government
\nwas considering imposing sanctions on companies that harm the
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
Nabiel said there had been a growing trend since the 1998
\neconomic crisis for companies to pay less attention to protecting
\nthe environment.<\/p>\n
Nabiel said that many factories in Java no longer complied
\nwith the Environmental Law in managing their waste due to
\nincreased overall costs because of the prolonged economic crisis.<\/p>\n
He said the government would publicly announce the results of
\nthe audit.<\/p>\n
\"We'll announce the audit's result within the next month,\" he
\nsaid, adding that the public could decide to boycott products
\nproduced by polluting companies.<\/p>\n
The audit covered only 14 sugar and palm oil factories in
\nRiau, Lampung and East Java.<\/p>\n
Based on the audit's result, the government will rank the
\ncompanies, depending on their performance in managing their
\nwaste. Companies complying with the law in managing their waste
\nwill be awarded gold and green environment labels while companies
\npolluting the environment will be given red and black labels.<\/p>\n
For the 2003 audit, the government will examine at least 60
\nforestry and agricultural companies in Surabaya (East Java),
\nSemarang (Central Java), Yogyakarta, Bandung (West Java), Serang
\n(Banten), Lampung, Palembang (South Sumatra), Jambi, Pekanbaru
\n(Riau), Medan (North Sumatra), Pontianak (West Kalimantan),
\nBanjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and Samarinda (East Kalimantan).<\/p>\n
Nabiel also said that his office had reached an agreement with
\nthe Supreme Court to set up special chambers in district courts
\nin the next two years to try companies violating the
\nEnvironmental Law.<\/p>\n
\"Special chambers in district courts will first be established
\nin Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/companies-lax-about-environmental-law-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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