Sarwono warns against collusion in green drive<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja senses a rat in the green campaign: Collusion
\nbetween government officials and technological consultants.<\/p>\n
The alleged collusion has caused scores of factories in
\nCentral Java and Yogyakarta to choose the wrong waste water
\ntreatment technologies, he said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Armed with documents signed by relevant officials, consultants
\nvisit companies offering waste treatment technologies they claim
\nare recommended by the government, he said.<\/p>\n
Many company managers are lured not only because of the
\nofficials' recommendations but also the cheap price the
\nconsultants quote.<\/p>\n
\"That ends up in the wrong choice of technology. Now the
\ncompanies are busy putting things right,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono was addressing managers and reporters in a discussion
\non business environmental ratings related to the Clean River
\ncampaign. The discussion was held by the Indonesian Journalist
\nAssociation and the Dr. Sutomo Press Institute.<\/p>\n
He alleged that some officials who \"don't know anything about
\ntechnology\" are actively promoting a product from a certain
\nconsulting firm.<\/p>\n
\"Company managements must learn to be responsible for their
\nown decisions,\" he said. \"We only provide information on
\nenvironmental consultants. We let managers decide for
\nthemselves.\"<\/p>\n
The Ministry's Environmental Impact Management Agency has made
\nit clear that managers must check out the credibility of
\nconsultants before making any transaction, he added.<\/p>\n
The experience, Sarwono said, should serve a lesson for
\ncompany managers to stop waiting for \"guidance and instructions\"
\nfrom government officials.<\/p>\n
This habit, he said, causes them to follow the lead of any
\nofficial with a high rank but no knowledge.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said internalizing environmental factors in the
\nproduction planning is the best attitude, instead of blindly
\nfollowing officials.<\/p>\n
Six managers attending yesterday's discussion announced the
\nestablishment of the \"Green Nusantara Industrial Club.\" They had
\nall been granted the green category among 187 firms evaluated for
\ntheir business performance environmental rating in June.<\/p>\n
They said the club wants to show the public that the business
\nperformance rating can be done voluntarily by entrepreneurs who
\nunderstand the importance of environmental protection.<\/p>\n
The winning companies include the Tangerang-based PT Indah
\nKiat Pulp and Paper, the Bandung-based arms manufacturer PT
\nPindad and Tangerang's Tifico textile company.<\/p>\n
The others are PT Cheil Samsung Astra, which produces
\nmonosodium glutamate in East Java, and two other textile
\nproducers, PT Unitex and PT Kumafiber.<\/p>\n
Nabiel Makarim, the deputy of the Ministry's Environmental
\nImpact Management Agency, reminded the managers to account for
\nthe interest of local people.<\/p>\n
\"Managers should not only guard their shareholders' interests,
\nbut they should also heed the stake holders (of their
\nproduction),\" Nabiel said. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sarwono-warns-against-collusion-in-green-drive-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}