SMS campaign to single out polluters<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Public transportation operators in Jakarta might have to pay more
\nattention to their vehicles' emissions as Jakartans now have a
\nchance to complain about the fumes they are spewing out.<\/p>\n
Since July, blue-skies watchdog Swisscontact has received over
\n250 text messages from people in Jakarta reporting public
\ntransportation vehicles they have spotted belching out thick
\nblack smoke on the streets of the capital.<\/p>\n
\"Pollution in Jakarta is getting worse every day. Public
\nparticipation is crucial to reducing pollution. That's why we
\nhave been encouraging the public to send us their complaints by
\nSMS. Rather surprisingly, many Jakartans have actually
\nresponded,\" Ari Muhammad of Swisscontact told The Jakarta Post
\nover the weekend.<\/p>\n
There are a large number of companies operate various types of
\ntransportation vehicles in the capital, including taxi firms,
\nbajaj (motorized trishaw) operators, mikrolet (minivan)
\noperators, and the Metromini, Kopaja, Mayasari, and PPD bus
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
Swisscontact is encouraging people to text their complaints to
\n0817-66-00001, stating how bad the smoke was, the type of vehicle
\n-- taxi, bus, or mikrolet -- and the vehicles registration
\nnumber.<\/p>\n
He said that Swisscontact was still compiling the reports and
\nwould submit them to the Jakarta Transportation Agency, the
\npolice and the Jakarta Transportation Council for follow-up
\naction.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is the third most polluted city in the world, with
\nover six million vehicles spewing out noxious emissions every
\nday.<\/p>\n
Although there are only 600,000 public transportation vehicles
\nin the capital, many environmentalists say that most of them are
\nunroadworthy and heavy polluters<\/p>\n
Ari said that the large number of complaints showed that
\nsomething was seriously wrong with the vehicle testing system.<\/p>\n
According to the prevailing regulations, public transportation
\nvehicles have to undergo a number of different tests, including
\nan emission test, before they can hit the road. The Jakarta
\nTransportation Agency is the body that is responsible for testing
\npublic transportation vehicles.<\/p>\n
Theoretically, a vehicle's operator will be unable to get the
\nvehicle registered if it has failed any of the tests.<\/p>\n
\"Belching out thick smoke is one clear indication that a
\nvehicle should not be allowed on the road in the first place. We
\nhope that the complaints sent in by the public will make the
\nauthorities aware that the people are watching them,\" Ari said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sms-campaign-to-single-out-polluters-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}