Legal sanctions needed to curb air pollution
Legal sanctions needed to curb air pollution
JAKARTA (JP): The absence of legal sanctions against polluters
is one obstacle to reducing air pollution, the city environmental
bureau head Aboejoewono said yesterday.
Aboejoewono said this stopped the city punishing polluters
that failed the second emission tests. The tests begin today and
end on Jan. 9.
However, he said establishing the legal aspects of the
emission tests was a long process but refused to elaborate.
Earlier, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
said incentives and not sanctions was the preferred policy in
fighting pollution.
Earlier tests were done in June.
Of 1,000 cars, 630 percent failed the tests. Most cars
exceeded the tolerable carbon monoxide level. Too much carbon
monoxide exposure causes headaches, low blood pressure and
breathing difficulties among other symptoms.
He said the tests were in preparation for enforcing the 1992
Traffic and Land Transport Law which orders emission checks to
determine whether vehicles are suitable for the road. The bill
will become effective on Sept. 7 this year.
The law has been introduced in several phases mainly through
police raids.
During the three days of tests, 10,000 cars passing designated
areas will have to undergo checks by the bureau, the City Police
traffic control department, and the emission detector
distributor, Sucofindo.
The detector checks the carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and
hydrocarbon content of cars' exhaust fumes. The tolerable level
set by the bureau for car emissions is 4.5 for carbon dioxide,
and 1.200 for nitrogen and hydrogen.
The tests scheduled for today are on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat,
Jl. Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta; Jl. Benyamin S., Jl. Raya
Cacing, and Jl. Kelapa Gading Boulevard, North Jakarta.
Tomorrow tests will be on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta,
Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Pondok Gede, Jl. Raya Bekasi, and Jl. Raya Bogor,
East Jakarta.
On Jan. 8, the tests will be on Jl. Asia Afrika in Senayan,
Central Jakarta, and Jl. Rawa Bambu Raya, Jl. Pahlawan, Jl. K.H.
Mansyur, and Warung Jati Barat, South Jakarta.
On Jan. 9, tests will be on Jl. K.S. Tubun, Central Jakarta,
Jl. Perjuangan, Jl. Kelapa Dua Raya, Jl. Daan Mogot, the Outer
Artery, West Jakarta.
Cars which fail the tests will bear red stickers, while those
which pass will get green stickers.
Aboejoewono said the bureau would distribute 15,000 handouts
in city buildings providing information on permitted emission
levels.
He said the second phase of the tests would be done after next
month's Idul Fitri holidays. (02)