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)