Gas emission campaign also aimed at city officials
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.
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.