Companies neglect environment: Official

Companies neglect environment: Official

TANGERANG (JP): As many as 40 industrial companies here do not
have adequate official documents on their activities managing and
monitoring the impact of their businesses on the environment, an
official said on Sunday.

The head of Tangerang's environmental office, M. Harun, said
the fee for obtaining such documents issued by his office,
locally known as UKL/UPL, was about Rp 11 million (US$1,640).

"The fee is much cheaper than installing a new waste water
processing unit, which could cost hundreds of millions of
rupiah," Harun said.

According to him, most of the 40 companies are concerned with
the metal, garment and textile sectors.

Harun expressed the worry that export-oriented companies that
lacked the documents would find it difficult obtaining ISO
certificates, which have become an important criterion for
foreign investors dealing with local firms.

He also said that company executives could be charged under
the Law No. 23/1997 on the Environment, which carries a maximum
penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of up to Rp 500 million
if waste from their companies affects people living in the area.

"If the waste causes fatalities, the executives could even
face 15 years in jail and Rp 750 million in fines," Harun said.

Tangerang is home to 1,061 factories, but Harun's office has
so far inspected only 420, including the 40 companies that have
no UKL/UPL papers.(41/jun)