Govt to draw a stern bylaw

TANGERANG: The city is preparing draft bylaws to authorize environmental assessments of companies in the municipality, an official said.

Environmental management agency official M. Harun said the municipality was home to hundreds of factories and other industries. "However, none of them have had environmental impact assessments as is set out in Law NO. 23/1997," he said on Saturday.

Harun said the draft bylaws were expected to be completed next month.

Tangerang named nine industrial firms last month that it alleged produced and/or discharged untreated waste directly into rivers. --JP