Factories told to build catchment wells

TANGERANG: The Environmental Management Agency of Tangerang district in Banten province revealed on Tuesday it had issued an instruction for 1,010 industrial enterprises operating in the district, to construct catchment wells on their own premises.

Pahala Sirait, head of the agency ground water subdivision told The Jakarta Post that the firms were required to construct the wells so as to maintain ground water quantity and quality by preventing sea water intrusion.

In addition, Pahala asserted that the wells could also help prevent flooding.

The catchment wells, Pahala said, should be at least 10 meters deep with a diameter of between 50 centimeters and one meter.

Pahala however, expressed doubts that the companies would abide by the instruction, as they had not shown much concern for environmental problems in the past. --JP