Gas emission campaign also aimed at city officials<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The fact that government officials and the public lack knowledge
\non the dangers of hazardous emission to their health has forced
\nresearchers to call for a double-edged campaign to cut gas
\nemissions from vehicles.<\/p>\n
A senior researcher from the Health Ecological Center at the
\nMinistry of Health, Sri Soewasti Soesanto, told The Jakarta Post
\non Wednesday that the target of the campaign was both vehicle
\nowners and officials as the persons responsible for making
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
\"Collusion between the officials who are in charge of checking
\ngas emissions and vehicle owners clearly shows their low
\nawareness that this not only jeopardizes their own health but
\nalso that of others,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Sri was referring to rampant bribery involving officials and
\nthe owners of commercial and public transport vehicles at the
\nvehicle testing centers.<\/p>\n
During observations conducted by the Post at the Pulo Gadung
\nvehicle testing center in East Jakarta, old bajaj (motorized
\npedicabs) were able to pass the test without having their
\nemissions checked. In return, the bajaj drivers or owners had to
\npay an \"extra fee\" besides the official fee.<\/p>\n
The Bajaj produce the most hazardous gas emissions of all the
\nvehicles in the city. The emissions contain dangerous substances
\nincluding lead, carbonmonoxide, hydrocarbon and the very small
\nparticles (dust) produced by diesel engines.<\/p>\n
The air pollution resulting from the high levels of emissions
\ncould lead to health problems including lung cancer, upper
\nrespiratory infections, impotency, eye irritation, kidney
\ndisease, blood pressure problems and even curbing IQ growth.<\/p>\n
Sri said most Jakartans paid little attention to the campaign
\nto cut the gas emissions as they had yet to directly suffer the
\neffects of the hazardous substance.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to make the public understand, but the public
\nofficials involved in the clean air campaign must not give up
\neasily,\" she said.<\/p>\n
However, she pointed out that campaigning alone was not
\nenough, and had to be followed up by effective law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Another researcher at the center, Athena F.B., said that the
\ncity administration should delay the plan to attach private car
\ngas emission test results when the owners extended their vehicle
\nregistrations.<\/p>\n
\"The plan is good news for our health and environment but
\nfamiliarizing it to the public is vital for the success of the
\nprogram,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Sri called on the administration to also implement the
\nregreening program in the city as it would make a significant
\ncontribution to cleaning up the Jakarta air in addition to
\ncutting gas emissions from vehicles through the enforcement of
\ngas emission regulations.<\/p>\n
\"It has been proved in many countries that expanding green
\nareas in cities helps produce fresher air,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Data from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi)
\nshowed that green areas in Jakarta now accounted for less than
\nnine percent from the city's total area. This figure was far less
\nthan the ideal of 30 percent.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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