Real action needed to curb pollution
Real action needed to curb pollution
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council once again reminded the government and private companies to take real action in reducing pollution in the city because the current rate has exceeded the allowable limit.
Chairman of the council's Commission D, which is in charge of development, Bandjar Marpaung urged the government yesterday to be more serious in the prevention of pollution by promoting the use of low leaded fuel.
He also urged industries to participate in protecting the environment by building water treatment facilities to process their wastes.
A research conducted recently by the city's urban and environmental assessment office shows that the city's water and air have been heavily polluted.
The research shows that air in the city has been polluted as can be seen from the high content of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfide (SO2) and dust in several parts of Jakarta.
The Gubernatorial Decree No. 587/1980 stated that the limit for SO2 is set at 0.1 parts per million (ppm), NOx 0.05 ppm and dust 260 ugr per cubic meter.
"The high level of pollution is caused mainly by contamination by exhaust produced by vehicles and factories," Bandjar said.
Currently there are a total of 20,000 industries and around 1.8 million vehicles in operation in the city.
Bandjar also said that most wells in the city have been highly contaminated.
"Out of the 279 wells checked under the research, only 9 wells produce drinking water of good quality. The rest are contaminated by coliform bacteria," Bandjar said, adding that the bacteria can cause rashes and other health problems.
He explained that this poor condition is a result of improper placement of the wells, which are located too close to septic tanks. Bandjar said that basically a well should be built at least 10 meters away from septic tanks.
Bandjar urged the urban and environmental assessment office to circulate the results of its research to Jakartans so they can understand that their well water is not suitable to drink.
"The office should let the people know about it and the city water company PAM Jaya should also supply adequate drinking water by installing new pipelines to areas," Bandjar said.
Out of the 279 wells being studied, the largest number of contaminated ones are in North Jakarta, he added.
Bandjar further said that there are a lot of developers in the city who neglect the environment around the areas they are developing, such as Pantai Indah Kapuk in West Jakarta and Bintaro Jaya in South Jakarta.
He said that the environmental impact analysis of Pantai Indah Kapuk was discussed in a meeting of the city's environment office and the Environmental Impact Management Agency on Monday.
"The discussion focused on why the developer of Pantai Indah Kapuk has not yet reviewed its environmental impact analysis, which is no longer appropriate to current conditions," Bandjar said.
Bandjar said that the developer has not yet submitted a renewal of the analysis to the city administration even though the company was ordered to review it in 1993. (yns)