Emission tests to be mandatory for all vehicles
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
A draft bylaw on air pollution scheduled for approval next month will require all vehicles in the city to undergo vehicle emission tests.
Currently, only cargo vehicles and public transportation vehicles, which account for less than 10 percent of the four million vehicles in the city, are required to undergo emission tests.
The draft bylaw rules on the emission standards not only for vehicles, but also for all industries in the city that contribute to air pollution.
Governor Sutiyoso expressed hope on Friday the council would soon approve a draft bylaw to give the city a legal basis to control emissions.
"Currently we have no legal basis to control emissions. Therefore, Jakarta's air is among the dirtiest in the world," he said after submitting the draft bylaw on air pollution to the City Council.
Article 6 of the draft bylaw rules that individual or institutional activities that have the potential to emit pollutants into the air are required to undergo emission tests.
Violators of emission standards could face up to six months in prison or a Rp 5 million (US$555.56) fine.
The city administration has certified 48 repair shops to perform the emission tests.
The head of the City Environment Management Body (BPLHD), Kosasih Wirahadikusumah, said vehicle owners would be required to present an emission test certificate from one of these repair shops to reregister their vehicles each year.
The draft bylaw also threatens to shut down industrial plants that ignore warnings on their emission levels from the administration.
According to Gubernatorial Decree No. 1041/2000 on emission standards for vehicles, the standards vary among vehicles, depending on age and type of fuel system.
For example, for model year 1996 and older vehicles with carburetors, the standard is 3 percent for its CO emissions and 700 parts per million (ppm) for HCl emissions. For vehicles with a fuel injection system, the standard is 2 percent for CO emission and 500 ppm for HCl.
Each industrial sector also has its own standards.
A number of non-governmental organizations grouped in the Coalition for Clean Air welcomed the deliberation of the draft bylaw by the council, but expressed pessimism it would be applied anytime soon.
The coalition said in a statement the draft bylaw submitted to the council was different from the one jointly drafted by the BPLHD and activists from a number of environmental NGOs.
It said many items proposed by the NGOs, such as vehicle maintenance, indoor pollution, government liability and green areas, were not included in the draft bylaw being deliberated by the council.
"Given this, if the draft is approved it will not be immediately applicable because its implementation will depend on up to 10 gubernatorial decrees," said activist Paul Butarbutar.
The governor submitted two other draft bylaws -- on regional fees and investment -- to the council on Friday.