'Many of us have little access to clean water'

'Many of us have little access to clean water'

It goes without saying that development is often at the cost of
the environment, replacing green spaces in big cities with
concrete jungles. In conjunction with World Environment Day on
June 5, The Jakarta Post asked a few residents for their opinion
of the city administration's environmental management.

Gregorius, 30, works for a private firm in Kedoya, West
Jakarta. He lives close to his office with his wife:

Let's talk about regreening the city. I have observed that,
while the administration has planted thousands of trees, it
doesn't care what happens afterward.

The officials don't really consider whether they plant the
trees in the right locations, or how to maintain them. Many trees
simply die. Those that survive grow to disturb electricity wires
or other installations. Some were uprooted during the recent
storms.

Regreening is actually a good policy, despite its high cost.
But, unfortunately, it has not delivered good results.

I also want to encourage the Jakarta administration to impose
a regulation that requires all vehicles to conform to the
emission standard. The policy would significantly reduce air
pollution.

Learning from the successful three-in-one and seat belt
policies, strict law enforcement is effective to force motorists
to comply with traffic regulations.

Maya Hastuti, 30, is a journalist with a newspaper in Cikini,
Central Jakarta. She lives in Jatiwaringin, Bekasi.

Both Bekasi and Jakarta administrations have paid little
attention to environmental issues. Environmental problems remain
unresolved and are, perhaps, getting worse.

Administrations prefer to use most of their budgets for
construction projects, leaving only meager funds for
environmental management.

In my home, the high level of pollution has made the water too
murky either for drinking or washing clothes. I have to buy
gallons of water every week. So far, the administration has done
nothing to fix that very simple problem. I think many residents
have very limited access to clean water.

--The Jakarta Post