Environmental agency to mediate pollution dispute<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Environmental Impact Management Agency
\n(Bapedal) has promised to mediate in the dispute between the
\npeople living along the Ciujung river in Serang, West Java, and
\nthe companies which are allegedly polluting it.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the agency, Nabiel Makarim, said yesterday
\nthat his office would make efforts to sponsor a meeting between
\nmanagers of the companies and the local people. He expects them
\nto discuss the amount of funds required to counter the
\nenvironmental damage the companies have caused.<\/p>\n
\"The agency will deal with the pollution problems, which in
\nfact needs no negotiation because what they have done is a
\nviolation of the law,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Seventeen people from Tirtayasa subdistrict, representing
\n2,000 residents, met with Nabiel yesterday to register their
\ncomplaint about the water pollution, which has killed a large
\namount of the fish and shrimp cultivated in the area, stunted the
\ngrowth of rice crops and caused skin irritations.<\/p>\n
The group was accompanied by members of the Indonesian Center
\nfor Environmental Law and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation,
\nwhom they have appointed as their lawyers.<\/p>\n
Mas Achmad Santoso of the law center suggested that the
\nenvironmental agency encourage the establishment of a special
\nteam -- consisting of local government officials, company
\nmanagers and local people -- which would have the responsibility
\nto guarantee that no further pollution occurred.<\/p>\n
Nabiel pointed out that although the agency would try its
\nbest, a considerable amount of time would be necessary in solving
\nthe problem, particularly because more than one company was
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
He did not specifically indicate that he would form the
\nspecial team as proposed by Santosa.<\/p>\n
Santosa suggested that if after three months the team failed
\nto come to a solution, the people would bring the matter to
\neither a criminal or civil court.<\/p>\n
Reports of pollution of the Ciujung river were first heard in
\nSeptember 1992, shortly after factories owned by PT Indah Kiat
\nPulp and Paper company, PT Sekawan Maju Pesat, PT Picon Jaya, PT
\nOnward Paper Utama and PT Cipta Papperia started operating. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmental-agency-to-mediate-pollution-dispute-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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