Emission tests start again across the city

JAKARTA (JP): The third phase of vehicle emission tests began at five city sites yesterday, targeting 5,000 cars by Thursday, the head of the city environmental bureau said.

Aboejoewono Aboeprajitno said the tests were necessary to make Jakartans aware that their vehicles may have contributed to the city's air pollution.

He said, however, the bureau did not have the authority to punish motorists whose vehicles failed the tests.

"It is the City Land Transportation Agency which will take action against delinquent motorists," Aboejoewono said.

The law on acceptable emission levels comes into effect in September, at the same time as the 1992 Traffic and Road Transport Law.

The tests, part of the city's Blue Sky campaign to curb air pollution, is the third and last round of the tests. The first was held last June and the second from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9.

"We are making all people aware and accepting of following the tests and improve the city's air," Aboejoewono said.

Yesterday, the five test sites were on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and Jl. KS Tubun in Central Jakarta and Jl. Benyamin S., Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Kelapa Gading Boulevard in North Jakarta.

The tests on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat did not disrupt traffic as they were conducted in the slow lane.

"In this phase, we chose the sites where most of the targeted vehicles, such as public transport vehicles and taxis, would pass," Aboejoewono said.

Results from the second round of tests at 19 sites from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9 show 2,291 of the 5,442 vehicles emitted unacceptable levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and smoke. Most of the vehicles that failed the tests were taxis and public transport vehicles using diesel fuel.

Two thousand one hundred and thirteen of the 5,442 vehicles tested used diesel fuel and the remaining used gasoline.

In June last year, 67 percent of the 1,307 vehicles tested failed.

"We expect the result of the third phase will be much better than the last round," Aboejoewono said.

He urged all motorists to take care of their vehicles and agree to the emission tests.

Yesterday, he said the result of 25,000 questionnaires, which were distributed to motorists whose cars were tested, would be announced on March 26. The results were expected to reflect public knowledge and opinion of Jakarta's air pollution.

Among the questions asked were the amount spent on vehicle maintenance, motorists' opinion on Jakarta's air quality and whether failing emission tests should be tied to the denial of requests for car ownership document extensions.

The questionnaires were processed by the automotive verification and testing division of state-run research firm PT Sucofindo.

Today, vehicles will be tested on Jl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta, and Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Pondok Gede, Jl. Raya Bekasi and Jl. Raya Bogor in East Jakarta.

Tomorrow, the tests will be conducted on Jl. Asia Afrika in Central Jakarta and Jl. Rawa Bambu Panjang, Jl. KH Mansyur, Jl. Pahlawan, Jl. Warung Jati Barat in South Jakarta. On Thursday, the tests will be carried out on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta, Jl. Perjuangan, Jl. Daan Mogot, Jl. Kelapa Dua Raya and Jl. Lingkar Luar in West Jakarta. (ste)