Police to probe river pollution

JAKARTA: Specialist detectives from Jakarta Police will soon make a joint investigation with the environment and natural resources unit of the East Jakarta Police on river pollution in Bekasi.

Top man at the Jakarta Police special crimes unit Sr. Comr. Edmon Ilyas said on Monday that his detectives had received reports from Bekasi environmental management agency on high toxicity levels found in nine rivers flowing into the area.

"We want to check whether the polluted rivers have claimed casualties," he told Tempo News Room.

The agency said 1,700 factories dumped their industrial waste directly into the rivers.

The nine polluted rivers are the Kalimalang, Kali Bekasi, Sadang, Kali Jaeren, Kali Jambe, Menir, Kali Cikarang Bekasi Laut, Cilemah Abang and Cikarang rivers. --JP