Bird's-eye view of pollution

Bird's-eye view of pollution

From Republika

As an Indonesian, I am saddened to learn that the Ancol coastal area is now so polluted that many fish have been killed from the red tide phenomenon or toxic waste and oil spills. I would like to share with readers what I, as a pilot, have seen from the sky.

When I fly over Jakarta Bay to land at Soekarno-Hatta airport, I can see, during the descent from 5,000 feet to 2,000 feet, an oil slick on the sea. I can assure you this water has come from motorized vessels that come and go from Tanjung Priok Harbor. The oil slick is quite large, and very obvious.

On May 19, I was landing at Hang Nadim airport in Batam. Just before the final approach to the south-western runway (3:45 a.m. local time), I saw, off the eastern coast of the island, a sizable barge sailing in a southerly direction right under my plane, dumping diesel fuel. I radioed the Hang Nadim air traffic controller, who could also see the barge clearly from the control tower, and reported the polluting vessel.

I hope the government will properly enforce the law and exact heavy penalties to marine polluters.

DJEKSON PANDEROT Jakarta