Contamination causes harvest failures

Contamination causes harvest failures

From Pikiran Rakyat

We, the farmers of Rancaekek subdistrict, Bandung regency,
have had harvest failure for the last 10 years because the waste
water from a dye factory has not been treated before release,
therefore causing water contamination.

Efforts through businessmen, the regional administration, the
House of Representatives, the print media and even complaints
sent to PO Box 5000 have come to nothing. Only in the present
reform era, however, has this matter been responded to by
President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The Pikiran Rakyat editions of Feb. 1, 2000 and Feb. 7, 2000
carried reports of a "delinquent" textile mill which dumps its
hazardous waste so that residents of Rancaekek, appalled by this
situation, had to block the water distribution channel of their
rice fields because the water was contaminated by industrial
waste from Sumedang.

We herewith thank the counselors of Bandung regency as it will
take follow-up measures against the contamination problem. May
the work of these counselors be fruitful, not like the ones
during the New Order era who carried out activities without any
result.

Law No 23/1997 on environmental management clearly regulates
how companies, the community and the government have an
obligation to environmental management. Companies violating the
provisions of this law, for example, dumping waste without a
permit, will be penalized. They will be required to pay
compensation and fines. They may be put in prison or have their
companies closed. Or they will be required to repair the damaged
environment.

We, as farmers, are now waiting for the government's action.
Do not let us have the image that it is businessmen that regulate
the government.

We have been impressed by what State Minister for
Environmental Affairs Soni Keraf has done, as reported on SCTV,
regarding the closing of Indorayon factory in North Sumatra
because of the environmental contamination it brought about.

When will the West Java provincial administration take action
to put things in order in the environmental sector. Do not be
late all the time. Please remember that the people must not
always suffer.

HJ. MAS KURNIATI

Bandung, West Java