No islands have disappeared since 1992, says mayor
No islands have disappeared since 1992, says mayor
JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito, denying reports
that Seribu Islands had disappeared recently, said yesterday not
a single island had disappeared in the last five years.
But he did acknowledge that four of the 120 islands had
vanished before 1992. The mayor was appointed in 1991.
"The four islands disappeared due to uncontrolled sand
quarrying. That was before 1992. Since 1992 there have been no
reports of other islands vanishing," Suprawito told
reporters at a seminar organized by the city administration and
the International Union of Local Authorities-Asian Pacific
Section seminar yesterday, Antara reported.
The mayor did not name the islands that disappeared before
1992, but confirmed one of them had been under the close
supervision of the administration.
The Republika morning daily had earlier reported that the
Gusung Laga, Gusung Kapas, and Gusung Karang islands were
disappearing into the sea like the Tidung and Ubi Islands had
before them.
According to Antara, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said when
visiting the islands last year that nine islands had disappeared.
Surjadi confirmed at that time that uncontrolled sand
quarrying, damage to the mangrove forests, the use of explosives
for fishing, the exploitation of the coral reef and the
disappearance of marine life due to pollution had triggered the
disappearance of the islands.
Suprawito said yesterday the city administration had no
authority to issue permits for sand quarrying in the Seribu
Islands. "It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and
Energy," he said.
Amdal
Meanwhile, a senior official at the City's Environmental
Bureau said in an interview with The Jakarta Post yesterday that
his office was not involved in environmental studies on the
islands.
"My office has never been invited nor involved in making the
environmental impact analyses (Amdal) required before sand
quarrying activities can be started in the islands," said the
official, who asked for anonymity.
According to Government Regulation No: 29/1986, any activities which
affect the environment require a prior Amdal from local
authorities.
"My office knows nothing about what has happened in the Seribu
Islands. The actual problem rests with the Directorate General of
General Mining at the Ministry of Mine and Energy," the official
said.
The city administration should not be held responsible for the
environmental destruction of the islands. The responsibility
should be taken by the central government, he said. (sur/11)