Illegal slaughter house 'still going'

TANGERANG: The Tangerang Government Watch group urged officials to take action against a slaughter house in Panunggangan Barat, Karawaci, which was continuing its operations although it was instructed to close last year.

The watchdog's coordinator Tonny Wismantoro said on Thursday that the illegal slaughter house was violating environmental laws because it was dumping its factory waste directly into a river.

"The public order officers should act immediately and not wait for orders from the city's Capital Investment and Permit Office (KPMP) or the Environmental Impact Management Agency to close the slaughter house down," he said.

Tangerang Council Commission D on development issues chairman Abdul Rozi said that the councillors would ask the officials to clarify why the business was still operating.

"In our visit there, the company's spokesman said they had a permit to run a meatball-producing factory. But he was unable to show the required permits and prevented us from entering the slaughter house," Rozi said. -- JP