Emil blasts Singaporean waste import<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former environment minister Emil Salim believes
\nwaste from Singapore's mass transport system being dumped in Riau
\nprovince probably contains toxic and hazardous substances.<\/p>\n
\"Who could guarantee (its safety)? Could the guarantee really
\nbe accepted? Waste is always dirty. For whatever reason, there
\nmust be a strong assumption that the wastes contain B3 (toxins),\"
\nEmil told a seminar on the environment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Emil was quoted by Antara as saying that the archipelagic
\nprovince's administration designated one of its islands as a
\nplace to \"accommodate\" wastes.<\/p>\n
He said a Singaporean colleague told him informally that
\nSingapore paid billions of rupiah in compensation for the use of
\nthe island.<\/p>\n
\"My colleague spoke bluntly that the money is a kind of rent
\nfor the use of the island for Singapore's (waste),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"That is a impolite act.\"<\/p>\n
Emil queried why an Indonesian island should be used as a
\ndumping ground for another nation's waste.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists are up in arms over the import of 15 million
\ncubic meters of waste from Singapore. The Indonesian government
\nclaims it can be used as a medium to grow mangroves and replenish
\nthe coastal forests near Pelambung Bay in Karimun Besar, Riau,
\nand earn the country Rp 100.8 billion in foreign exchange.<\/p>\n
The import was facilitated by an agreement between the
\nEnvironmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) and Singapore's
\nenvironment ministry.<\/p>\n
The government insists the material is not toxic. If it is
\nlater found to be toxic, however, Singapore would be required to
\ntake it back under Indonesian environmental laws. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/emil-blasts-singaporean-waste-import-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}