Most Surabaya firms have no IPAL

Most Surabaya firms have no IPAL

The Environmental Law Working Committee (KKHL) has recorded that
at least 1,505 of 1,600 companies in Surabaya do not possess
liquid waste processing installations (IPALs).

"Based on field observations, many companies still dump their
waste directly into rivers in Surabaya. The strange thing is that
they were not even reprimanded by the government," KKHL secretary
Suparto Wijoyo said on Thursday in Surabaya, East Java.

"This proves that the government is not concerned about the
environment," added the environmental law activist.

He said the move had further polluted rivers in Surabaya,
although 98 percent of river water is used for people's daily
needs.

"Ironically, the polluted river water is used as a source of
drinking water," Suparto said.

He criticized the government for not taking measures against
companies that did not have an IPAL as required by Bylaw No.
82/2001 on water quality management and water pollution control.

Similarly, East Java Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi)
branch executive director Sardiyoko said his organization's
survey showed that of 52 companies that threw their waste into
rivers in Surabaya", 26 had no IPAL.

"Even when they possess an IPAL, they still dump their waste
into rivers," he said.

An employee of a factory producing flavor enhancer in
Mojokerto regency, East Java, said his firm and others dumped
their waste into rivers because of the cost of waste processing
equipment.

The situation was aggravated by poor law enforcement against
violators, he added. --JP