Emission tests reveal hazy picture

Emission tests reveal hazy picture

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Twenty-four of 140 private cars, or 17 percent, that underwent
free emission tests at Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta on
Tuesday failed to pass the test.

"They look disappointed not only because their cars have high
emission levels but also because they could not get the free
parking voucher that we give to those who pass the test," Plaza
Indonesia management safety and emergency assistance division
head Dody Hermawan told The Jakarta Post.

Shoppers whose cars passed the emission test received a free
parking voucher of Rp 4,000, a certificate noting the cars'
emission level and a sticker certifying that their cars passed
the test.

Dody said the test could not be imposed to all incoming cars
as it would cause traffic congestion at the shopping center's
entrances.

"The test tales between three and five minutes. That's why the
test was voluntary. It's up to the motorists if they want their
cars tested or not," he added.

The free emission test was organized by Plaza Indonesia
management in cooperation with non-governmental organization
Movement for Clean Emissions (AEB) and the Jakarta Environmental
Management Agency (BPLHD).

Former state minister of the environment, Sonny Keraf, who was
present at the event, welcomed the free emission test for the
public.

"This is a good way to raise public awareness to participate
in the program as an effort to reduce air pollution in the city,"
he told reporters at Plaza Indonesia.

Chairman of Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) Azas Tigor
Nainggolan praised the test but said that such efforts were not
adequate.

"The quality of air in Jakarta will keep worsening if the city
administration does not take the necessary measures to restrict
the use of private vehicles," he said.

Vehicular emissions are responsible for 70 percent of air
pollution in the city, while the remaining 30 percent is produced
by industry.

Tigor proposed that the administration implement some policies
including road pricing and higher parking fees to discourage
people from using their cars.

"However, the efforts to minimize the use of private vehicles
must be combined with a significant improvement in public
transportation services," he said.

The government has yet to complete the revision of its
10-year-old, outdated national standard for vehicle emissions.
The revision is expected to be finished and come into effect in
September.

The Office of the State Minister for the Environment is still
discussing the revision with automotive experts and local
administrations to ensure that the new standard is comprehensive
and applicable nationwide. The revision of Ministerial Decree No.
35/1993 on vehicle emission standards is expected to be completed
by the end of this year.

BPLHD's air pollution control division head Yusiono Anwar
Supalal revealed that BPLHD and AEB would hold a similar test for
two days at the North Jakarta Municipal office.

"We also arrange similar test with other private companies,
but we have yet to decide the exact dates," Yusiono told the
Post.