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)