Environment tax

Environment tax

From Media Indonesia

I would like to comment on the editorial: Polluter has to pay
and the report entitled Environment tax on vehicles using
gasoline (page one of Media Indonesia, Oct. 4).

The Jakarta administration is planning to enforce an
environment tax of Rp 2 per liter of gasoline. This will boost
the administration's revenues tremendously. With the acquired
funds, will the city purchase equipment to reduce environmental
pollution?

The matter should also be viewed from the aspect of equity.
The state-owned oil company Pertamina, as the only seller of
leaded fuel, is not yet in a position to offer an alternative to
fuel users. It stands to logic that Pertamina should share in the
tax, say fifty-fifty.

If the buyer only has to pay an environment tax, it is not
just. In the meantime, the seller goes on collecting his profits
from the sale of unleaded fuel, which continues to pollute the
environment.

With the accumulated funds, will the Jakarta administration
become transparent toward the public? What steps will it take to
reduce pollution?

In my opinion, before Pertamina is capable of selling unleaded
gas and doing away with leaded gasoline in the country, the
proposal for an environment tax should be thoroughly reviewed.

J. FADJAR LELONO

Bekasi, West Java