Allocate funds to save nature

Allocate funds to save nature

SORONG, Maluku: A Sorong councilor from the United Development
Party (PPP) has requested the Sorong municipality to provide
funds to preserve the environment.

"It is about time that the Sorong municipality specifically
funded efforts to preserve the environment especially because
Sorong was selected to be the nation's environment preservation
pilot project," Hasmi Toha said.

Hasmi, who is chairman of the PPP faction in the Sorong
regency Legislative Council, added that several of the Sorong
territorial waters have been damaged by irresponsible
professional anglers who use hazardous chemicals, such as
potassium, and explosives.

"It will take ten to 30 years to restore the territorial
waters to normality," Hasmi said, adding that the polluted waters
are in the Missol district, the North and South Waigeo waters and
the Salawati waters, where lobster are harvested.

Hasmi said that the preservation fund would try and prevent
any further environmental damage to the sea, land or air.

Hasmi was quoted by Antara as urging local residents to help
environmental preservation efforts as well as reporting violators
of regulations to the authority. (14)