27 firm face investigation into pollution in Karanganyar rivers
Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Semarang
The Central Java office of the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bappedal) is investigating 27 companies over allegations of polluting rivers in Karanganyar regency.
The investigation comes in the wake of the alleged mercury contamination scandal in Buyat Bay, South Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi.
Djoko Soetrisno, the head of the Bappedal office in Central Java, said on Friday the agency had already summoned officials from eight companies in Karanganyar, and would question officials from more companies soon.
He said the agency was questioning the officials over the type of industrial waste discharged by their companies into several rivers in the regency, including the Ngringo, Pengok and Sroyo rivers. The agency also is asking the companies to provide it with samples of their industrial waste.
Bappedal is performing laboratory tests to determine whether the companies can be held responsible for pollution in the rivers.
"We also are taking samples of industrial waste at 19 selected spots in the rivers. It takes time to determine whether the industrial waste contains hazardous metal waste," Djoko said.
He said his office also was studying recent findings from the School of Agriculture at Sebelas Maret University.
Researchers from the university reportedly found amounts of a hazardous chrome substance in rivers in Karanganyar regency, including types of kalium chromat and kalium sulfate.
These two types of chrome are extremely dangerous. If inhaled, they can cause nosebleeds. If ingested, they can cause kidney and heart problems.
"But we will cross-check the findings with our own laboratory tests, which are still underway," Djoko said.
Pranata, an executive at blanket manufacturer PT Kharisma Parwitex, one of the companies summoned by Bappedal, denied his company discharged hazardous waste into Ngringo River.
He said his company recycled its waste, so whatever was discharged into the river was not hazardous to humans.