Govt promises to get tough with firms that flout environmental rules
Govt promises to get tough with firms that flout environmental rules
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thanks to the increase in the budget allocation for his office,
State Minister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar plans to spend
more on enforcement of environmental regulations and on
empowering regions to protect the environment.
Rachmat said one of his major agendas next year would be
strong law enforcement against companies that performed poorly in
environmental management.
"We will bring to court companies that receive black marks
twice but still fail to improve their performance," Rachmat said
during a breaking of the fast gathering at his official residence
in Widya Chandra housing complex in South Jakarta on Sunday.
The minister in August announced the results of an
environmental audit called the Company Environmental Management
Assessment Program (PROPER) for 2004/2005. Of 466 firms audited,
150 were given red marks, while 72 received black marks for not
doing enough in terms of environmental management.
Rachmat said 14 firms were found to have received black marks
more than once, but the government had given them another month
to improve their environmental management.
The minister added his office would launch several pilot
projects in the new fiscal year aimed at promoting environmental
protection.
"There will be a significant hike in the budget, which will
help us intensify our efforts in preserving the environment," he
said.
The House of Representatives on Friday approved the Rp 647.7
trillion (US$64.7 billion) draft state budget, up from last
year's Rp 559.2 trillion.
Rachmat refused to unveil his office's spending for next year,
but a member of the House's Commission VII on environment, Sonny
Keraf, had said that lawmakers had agreed to a Rp 113 billion
increase in the environment budget.
Last year, the Office of State Minister of the Environment
received Rp 218.1 billion.
Rachmat said much of the budget would be spent on
strengthening regional offices, particularly the provincial
Environmental Impact Management agencies.
"Our regional offices have been unable to do a lot due to
budget constraints," he said.
One pilot project his office was undertaking was for
environment-friendly tin mining in Bangka-Belitung province.
The project aimed at promoting sustainable development by
blending mining and environment protection activities.
"The government will not restrict people from exploiting the
country's rich natural resources as long as they can ensure the
sustainability of the environment," he said.