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