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.