Real action needed to curb pollution<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council once again reminded the
\ngovernment and private companies to take real action in reducing
\npollution in the city because the current rate has exceeded the
\nallowable limit.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the council's Commission D, which is in charge of
\ndevelopment, Bandjar Marpaung urged the government yesterday to
\nbe more serious in the prevention of pollution by promoting the
\nuse of low leaded fuel.<\/p>\n
He also urged industries to participate in protecting the
\nenvironment by building water treatment facilities to process
\ntheir wastes.<\/p>\n
A research conducted recently by the city's urban and
\nenvironmental assessment office shows that the city's water and
\nair have been heavily polluted.<\/p>\n
The research shows that air in the city has been polluted as
\ncan be seen from the high content of nitrogen oxide (NOx),
\nsulfide (SO2) and dust in several parts of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Gubernatorial Decree No. 587\/1980 stated that the limit
\nfor SO2 is set at 0.1 parts per million (ppm), NOx 0.05 ppm and
\ndust 260 ugr per cubic meter.<\/p>\n
\"The high level of pollution is caused mainly by contamination
\nby exhaust produced by vehicles and factories,\" Bandjar said.<\/p>\n
Currently there are a total of 20,000 industries and around
\n1.8 million vehicles in operation in the city.<\/p>\n
Bandjar also said that most wells in the city have been highly
\ncontaminated.<\/p>\n
\"Out of the 279 wells checked under the research, only 9 wells
\nproduce drinking water of good quality. The rest are contaminated
\nby coliform bacteria,\" Bandjar said, adding that the bacteria can
\ncause rashes and other health problems.<\/p>\n
He explained that this poor condition is a result of improper
\nplacement of the wells, which are located too close to septic
\ntanks. Bandjar said that basically a well should be built at
\nleast 10 meters away from septic tanks.<\/p>\n
Bandjar urged the urban and environmental assessment office to
\ncirculate the results of its research to Jakartans so they can
\nunderstand that their well water is not suitable to drink.<\/p>\n
\"The office should let the people know about it and the city
\nwater company PAM Jaya should also supply adequate drinking water
\nby installing new pipelines to areas,\" Bandjar said.<\/p>\n
Out of the 279 wells being studied, the largest number of
\ncontaminated ones are in North Jakarta, he added.<\/p>\n
Bandjar further said that there are a lot of developers in the
\ncity who neglect the environment around the areas they are
\ndeveloping, such as Pantai Indah Kapuk in West Jakarta and
\nBintaro Jaya in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that the environmental impact analysis of Pantai Indah
\nKapuk was discussed in a meeting of the city's environment office
\nand the Environmental Impact Management Agency on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The discussion focused on why the developer of Pantai Indah
\nKapuk has not yet reviewed its environmental impact analysis,
\nwhich is no longer appropriate to current conditions,\" Bandjar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Bandjar said that the developer has not yet submitted a
\nrenewal of the analysis to the city administration even though
\nthe company was ordered to review it in 1993. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/real-action-needed-to-curb-pollution-1447893297",
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