People, govt must join hands to curb pollution
People, govt must join hands to curb pollution
The public cannot deny the fact that water quality in the capital
is deteriorating due to poor public and industry awareness on the
environment. Some people shared with The Jakarta Post their
concerns upon seeing the reality of our water condition that is
deemed severely contaminated and polluted.
Mistono, 23, a worker belonging to a cleaning service company
posted at the Ministry of Forestry. He resides in Pondok Ranji,
Bintaro after moving from Wonogiri, Central of Java four years
ago:
Generally speaking, the city water has been badly contaminated
because people in the city tend to be irresponsible by dumping
garbage improperly. Industry, too, has contributed to the
groundwater contamination.
In my opinion around 90 percent of the city river and
groundwater has been seriously contaminated.
I don't know who should be held responsible for the condition.
Regardless of who is to blame, the key is poor public awareness
on this and other environmental issues.
Perhaps better communication and cooperation between the
people and the government could result in an integrated way to
cope with the problem.
Sarino, 40, a driver of a retired government official. He
resides in Bintaro with his two children and wife. He has been
working as a private driver for six years:
As I always move around the city, I observe that almost all
water in the city is polluted. The dirty water reflects severe
pollution.
According to my observations, only the southern part of
Jakarta is deemed safe, at least, the ground water in some areas
is still consumable.
Industry deserves to be blamed for the chronic contamination
of water here, I think.
Perhaps reviewing and tight monitoring of the implementation
of environment-related regulations for industrial zones would
help preserve superior groundwater.
In my opinion, industries should operate waste treatment
plants in a transparent manner. In this way the public could
monitor the treatment process.
Toim, 40, a security guard at the Ministry of Forestry in
Jakarta. He has been working at the Ministry and living for 20
years with his wife and two children in Ciledug, Tangerang:
I have no doubt that the water in the city has been severely
polluted.
The fact that fish can no longer live in the water is obvious
proof that the water is no good. I heard that the water has
hazardous pollutants such as lead which is dangerous to human
health.
My house is located in an area bordering Jakarta with a
neighboring province, yet I find the ground water is not worth
drinking. Locals said that the plot where my housing complex now
stands was previously a swamp. Therefore the groundwater is of no
good quality. But I think pollution has deteriorated the
groundwater quality. Therefore, I have to buy clean water for
drinking and cooking every week.