5 firms may face pollution lawsuit

5 firms may face pollution lawsuit

TANGERANG: Five industrial firms in Tangerang could face a
lawsuit for allegedly polluting the environment in Tangerang,
Banten, an official said on Thursday.

Deputy head of the Tangerang environmental agency Dadan Hendra
Sambas said his office had sent a letter signed by Tangerang
Regent Ismet Iskandar asking for the assistance of State Minister
for the Environment Nabiel Makarim in taking legal action against
several companies for polluting the environment.

The companies, which were mentioned only by their initials,
are: PT JSM, a textile firm in Balaraja; PT JO, a food processing
company in Cibadak; PT KIM, a glass manufacturing company in
Balaraja; PT DMW, a nail manufacturer in Pasar Kemis; and PT Y,
an aluminum processing company in Curug.

Dadan said his office had found that these companies could not
produce a permit for dumping their industrial waste, did not have
a proper waste treatment facility and failed to show any
documents certifying that they had undergone an environmental
impact analysis.

Apparently, although the regency administration had
reprimanded the companies, they made no response nor any follow-
up measures.

Tangerang Regency has over 1,800 industrial companies
operating in the area. -- Antara