Hospitals, firms accused of polluting rivers

Wahyuana , Bekasi

The stench along the Kalimalang River that runs beside a road linking Bekasi and Jakarta had long been overlooked by residents and motorists until the Bekasi environmental management agency found hazardous levels of toxic substances in the river.

A recent investigation held by the agency revealed that two hospitals and 12 companies located outside the industrial zone are allegedly responsible for the river pollution.

Head of the environmental impact supervision and management unit at the agency, Tirta Abdul Fatah, said that the officers had summoned representatives of the 14 companies on Thursday to clarify the allegation.

"We had yet to impose any sanctions against the companies. We just warned them to use proper waste treatment facilities and not to dump untreated waste directly into the rivers," Tirta said.

The agency revealed that the companies are metal processing company PT Cabinindu Putra, plastic manufacturer PT Sinar Jati Mulia, packaging company PT Bina Rukun Jaya, pesticide producer PT Basf Indonesia, vehicle assembling plant PT Karya Bahan Unigam and soft drink producer PT Coca Cola.

The hospitals named are Annisa Hospital in Lemah Abang and Medika Hospital in Cikarang.

The companies allegedly dump industrial waste into several small rivers, such as Bekasi River, Sadang, Jaeren, Jambe, Menir, Sasak Jarang rivers and the Bekasi Laut Canal.

Tirta further said that the rivers contained high levels of heavy metal, far exceeding levels deemed safe under Government Regulation No. 82 on water management.

A spokeswoman of Annisa Hospital, Dian, said on Friday that the hospital would tighten control on its waste disposal.

Separately, Media Hospital spokeswoman Debby claimed that the hospital management made a regular report on its environmental management in accordance with the regulations.

"We were once accused of dumping unprocessed waste into the river by Cikarang residents. But we have already installed a waste treatment facility. Moreover, the volume of the hospital's waste is small, so I wouldn't say it is hazardous," she told The Jakarta Post.

However, many of the industrial firms summoned on Thursday claimed that they were just invited for a meeting with the environmental management agency.

"The meeting was held simply to tell us that we have to pay more attention to the environment," said Kus Hariyanto, one of the executives of PT Bina Rukun Jaya.

"Moreover, we do not produce liquid waste, and the volume of our waste is small," he added.