400 artesian wells are without permits

BOGOR: About 400 of the 1,000 artesian wells in Bogor regency do not have proper permits, said the head of the regency's underground water division, Jhonny Alibasyah.

"It's about fairness. Water is supposed to be for the people's interest. A person or a company must apply for a license before drilling an artesian well," he said on Monday.

Jhonny said he had sent warning letters to companies and hotels in the districts of Cijeruk, Ciawi, Cisarua and Megamendung.

"These businesspeople did not respond. In fact, they set up a coalition to boycott the regency administration. They claimed that we had made it difficult for them to obtain the licenses," he said.

Jhonny said the companies and hotels were in violation of Bylaw No. 18/2000 on water as a natural resource.

He said if the administration did not control the use of underground water, it would lead to environmental damage in the future. -- JP