Environmental agency to mediate pollution dispute
Environmental agency to mediate pollution dispute
JAKARTA (JP): The Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedal) has promised to mediate in the dispute between the
people living along the Ciujung river in Serang, West Java, and
the companies which are allegedly polluting it.
Deputy chairman of the agency, Nabiel Makarim, said yesterday
that his office would make efforts to sponsor a meeting between
managers of the companies and the local people. He expects them
to discuss the amount of funds required to counter the
environmental damage the companies have caused.
"The agency will deal with the pollution problems, which in
fact needs no negotiation because what they have done is a
violation of the law," he said.
Seventeen people from Tirtayasa subdistrict, representing
2,000 residents, met with Nabiel yesterday to register their
complaint about the water pollution, which has killed a large
amount of the fish and shrimp cultivated in the area, stunted the
growth of rice crops and caused skin irritations.
The group was accompanied by members of the Indonesian Center
for Environmental Law and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation,
whom they have appointed as their lawyers.
Mas Achmad Santoso of the law center suggested that the
environmental agency encourage the establishment of a special
team -- consisting of local government officials, company
managers and local people -- which would have the responsibility
to guarantee that no further pollution occurred.
Nabiel pointed out that although the agency would try its
best, a considerable amount of time would be necessary in solving
the problem, particularly because more than one company was
involved.
He did not specifically indicate that he would form the
special team as proposed by Santosa.
Santosa suggested that if after three months the team failed
to come to a solution, the people would bring the matter to
either a criminal or civil court.
Reports of pollution of the Ciujung river were first heard in
September 1992, shortly after factories owned by PT Indah Kiat
Pulp and Paper company, PT Sekawan Maju Pesat, PT Picon Jaya, PT
Onward Paper Utama and PT Cipta Papperia started operating. (pwn)