Factories pollute rivers

Factories pollute rivers

JAKARTA (JP): The Tangerang administration is still
investigating 11 factories in the regency discovered to have
polluted three rivers by discarding industrial chemical wastes
into the rivers.

Head of Tangerang's office in charge of environmental affairs,
H. Nana Mulyana, told Antara yesterday that the 11 factories have
failed to set up waste-treatment plants, despite repeated
warnings from the administration. "The factories simply discarded
their industrial wastes into Cimanceuri, Cirarab and Cilongok
rivers without processing them first," said Nana.

He said several officials from his office had been assigned to
check the level of pollution caused by the factories.

"We hope we will receive the results next month at the latest.
If they (the factories) continue ignoring our warnings we will
not hesitate to impose strict penalties on them," Nana said,
adding that the penalties would include the closing down of the
factories and taking the owners to court. (bas)