RI flexible on environment law<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is willing to reconsider a five-
\nyear grace period for businesses to comply with the future law on
\nenvironment, a cabinet minister said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The government-sponsored bill, a revision of the 1982 law, has
\nbeen submitted to the House of Representatives and deliberations
\nare expected to begin soon.<\/p>\n
State Minister of the Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said,
\n"If the House thinks the five-year period will be too long, the
\ngovernment is willing to reconsider it."<\/p>\n
The House is expected to pass the bill by the end of
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
Legislators from the United Development Party (PPP) said the
\nfive-year grace period would be too long because dishonest
\nentrepreneurs would have time to rake in profits while
\ndisregarding the environment.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the grace period was created so that businesses
\nwould have time to adopt environment-friendly technology, which
\nwould also have to improve.<\/p>\n
Deregulation of licensing might happen during the grace
\nperiod, he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the grace period would give the government better
\nreason to take tough action against businesses which failed to
\nabide by the law. It could, for instance, revoke their permits.<\/p>\n
But he acknowledged that the effectiveness of the law would
\ndepend greatly on law enforcers' technical skills and integrity.
\n(aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-flexible-on-environment-law-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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