Pollution control eyes 50 industries

Pollution control eyes 50 industries

JAKARTA: The government has targeted 50 industries this year
for its program to control them from endangering the environment,
State Minister of Environment Nabiel Makarim says.

Among the industries affected by the pollution control under
the evaluation and ranking program (PROPER) are textile, pulp and
paper, fertilizer, agroindustry, cement, power plant, coal, and
oil and gas industries, Nabiel told a hearing at the House of
Representatives Commission VIII overseeing science, technology
and environment on Monday.

PROPER will examine the companies' efforts in controlling
water, air, solid pollution and other poisonous waste, Nabiel
said, adding that their performance will be publicized.

In the absence of the program, industries tended to ignore any
rulings on the minimum level of waste, emission and other
poisonous waste, he said.

Nabiel said PROPER could emulate the river cleaning program
which succeeded in reducing water pollution in rivers by 58
percent. -- JP