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