Sarwono to beef up environmental watchdogs
Sarwono to beef up environmental watchdogs
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja plans to beef up the Agency for Environment Control
(Bappedal) by creating a new division that will extend the
agency's reaches in the region.
Sarwono told reporters that his proposals are currently being
considered by President Soeharto who is expected to issue a
presidential decree.
Bapedal is a government agency chaired by Sarwono who is
currently assisted by two deputies, one on program development
and another on pollution control. Each deputy overseas a division
within Bapedal.
Sarwono said that under his proposal, a third deputy will be
created with the task of promoting decentralization in the
environmental supervision task. The division will focus more on
local projects and gradually create more autonomous local
Bappedal offices, he said.
The new deputy on institutional and capacity increment affairs
will be assisted by three directors: one on human resources, one
on management and the other on coordination of aid programs.
The move is the latest from Sarwono's office to strengthen the
government's effort to protect and preserve the country's
environment.
Two weeks ago, President Soeharto issued a decree that
compelled manufacturers to treat their toxic and hazardous waste
and empowered Bapedal to oversee the enforcement of the ruling.
Sarwono explained that the new deputy was urgently needed to
reduce the job of Bappedal's overburdened central office, which
currently handles human resources, management and aid
coordination matters, as well as administrative and routine
affairs.
"Indonesia needs to learn more from developed countries who
have already implemented decentralized systems of decision-making
in environmental management," he said.
Ideally, all operational programs at the local level,
including law enforcement, should be managed by local
authorities, he said. "In Indonesia, most decisions are still
made at a very high level."
Included in the proposed draft to the President was a program
to establish an information and compliance center, he said.
"Information issued by this center, such as a list of the
performances of certain industries, will encourage people to
abide by environmental rules. So they won't comply out of a fear
of being punished," he said.
Sarwono explained the proposed center would also be under the
management of Bappedal.
Canada
Sarwono yesterday also signed an agreement by which Canada
will extend its grant program on an environmental project in
Indonesia.
The memorandum of understanding for the grant of Rp 5.2
billion ($2.4 million) was signed at his office with Canadian
Ambassador Lawrence T. Dickenson.
The Environmental Management Development in Indonesia (EMDI)
project, which began in 1986, supports the Sarwono's office,
Bappedal and Indonesian universities in their efforts to ensure
better environmental management and more sustainable development
in Indonesia.
The overall value of the project, which is extended until July
1995, is put Rp 48.4 billion.
The EMDI project is implemented jointly by Sarwono's office
and Canada's Dalhousie University.
The additional funds will be used mainly for natural resources
management, environmental protection, the Prokasih (Clean River)
program, environmental impact assessment projects and for
cooperation projects between Indonesian and Canadian
universities.
"They have been very generous, and they do not interfere with
our environmental policies," Sarwono praised the Canadians,
adding that the attitude has never changed despite the changes of
ambassadors here.
He also said that since the aid was given as grants, "we
really have nothing to lose. It is a great benefit for us".(pwn)