Gas emission campaign also aimed at city officials
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The fact that government officials and the public lack knowledge on the dangers of hazardous emission to their health has forced researchers to call for a double-edged campaign to cut gas emissions from vehicles.
A senior researcher from the Health Ecological Center at the Ministry of Health, Sri Soewasti Soesanto, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the target of the campaign was both vehicle owners and officials as the persons responsible for making decisions.
"Collusion between the officials who are in charge of checking gas emissions and vehicle owners clearly shows their low awareness that this not only jeopardizes their own health but also that of others," she said.
Sri was referring to rampant bribery involving officials and the owners of commercial and public transport vehicles at the vehicle testing centers.
During observations conducted by the Post at the Pulo Gadung vehicle testing center in East Jakarta, old bajaj (motorized pedicabs) were able to pass the test without having their emissions checked. In return, the bajaj drivers or owners had to pay an "extra fee" besides the official fee.
The Bajaj produce the most hazardous gas emissions of all the vehicles in the city. The emissions contain dangerous substances including lead, carbonmonoxide, hydrocarbon and the very small particles (dust) produced by diesel engines.
The air pollution resulting from the high levels of emissions could lead to health problems including lung cancer, upper respiratory infections, impotency, eye irritation, kidney disease, blood pressure problems and even curbing IQ growth.
Sri said most Jakartans paid little attention to the campaign to cut the gas emissions as they had yet to directly suffer the effects of the hazardous substance.
"It is difficult to make the public understand, but the public officials involved in the clean air campaign must not give up easily," she said.
However, she pointed out that campaigning alone was not enough, and had to be followed up by effective law enforcement.
Another researcher at the center, Athena F.B., said that the city administration should delay the plan to attach private car gas emission test results when the owners extended their vehicle registrations.
"The plan is good news for our health and environment but familiarizing it to the public is vital for the success of the program," she said.
Sri called on the administration to also implement the regreening program in the city as it would make a significant contribution to cleaning up the Jakarta air in addition to cutting gas emissions from vehicles through the enforcement of gas emission regulations.
"It has been proved in many countries that expanding green areas in cities helps produce fresher air," she said.
Data from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) showed that green areas in Jakarta now accounted for less than nine percent from the city's total area. This figure was far less than the ideal of 30 percent.