Independent body needed to control environmental damage

Independent body needed to control environmental damage

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Tangerang Municipality and Regency Environmental Analysis Forum
(Forklipt) called on the administrations and public in both areas
to set up an independent body to control environmental damage,
allegedly caused by many companies.

The body is also expected to become a mediator in resolving
environmental disputes between the accused companies, and the
administrations and people living around the factories.

Forklipt director Karya Ersada gave his response on the news
that the Tangerang regency administration would take 25 companies
to court over allegations of damage to the environment.

The administration accused the companies, which already have
water treatment plants, of allegedly dumping their liquid waste
into rivers, thereby inflicting environmental damage on people
living nearby.

Karya said over the weekend that the instances of
environmental damage in both Tangerang regency and municipality
had increased but so far the public had not participated in
addressing the problem.

He also said that the establishment of an independent body
would encourage the public to become involved in monitoring and
solving the current problems.

"Whenever environmental damage cases have been taken to court,
the companies are only penalized if they are found guilty (of
damaging the environment), but the public, which has always
suffered from the damage, never receives anything in
compensation," he said.

Regency environmental agency supervision and control division
head Cecep Suhendar said that there was no such body in the
regency.

He also suggested that a body should be established by the
public instead of the administration, to ensure its independence.

"Many companies have damaged the environment, causing
suffering to the public. We, the officials, are really annoyed at
their action," he said.

Data shows that around 700 companies in the municipality and
1,013 in the regency allegedly dump liquid waste into the
Cisadane, Cirarab and Cimanceuri rivers.