Mines Ministry denies authority

Mines Ministry denies authority

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Mines and Energy denied it was
responsible for issuing permits for sand quarrying in North
Jakarta.

The ministry's public relations office announced Friday that
the ministry issued permits for off-shore sand quarrying in
general.

But permits for companies operating in the Seribu Islands and
in the Jakarta Bay are issued by the municipality. The decision
of the ministry was signed in November 1985.

Earlier mayor Suprawito said the city had no authority to
issue sand quarrying permits in the Seribu Islands as permits
rested with the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Supervision of environmental damage was raised in the media
last week following reports of the disappearance of at least six
of the Seribu Islands. Uncontrolled sand quarrying was one of the
reported causes.

Councilor Bandjar Marpaung had said supervision of the Seribu
Islands did not lie with the city alone. Besides the Ministry of
Mines and Energy, the city must also deal with the Directorate
General of Sea Affairs under the Ministry of Transportation, the
Navy and other offices in matters regarding coastal management.

The head of the city's environmental study and monitoring
office, Ali Rozi, had said the autonomy of the city was crucial
in preserving the islands and their surroundings. He said the
central government should be held responsible for damage in the
Seribu Islands. (11)