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