Tangerang plans to deal with environmental issues
Multa Fidrus, Tangerang
Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim acknowledged that it was not easy for his administration to handle environmental problems resulting from waste dumping by industrial firms, but promised to crack down on the perpetrators.
"It's not easy ... We cannot just close down the firms and put thousands of people out of work, but we have to comply with the existing laws," he said during a plenary session with the Tangerang Council on Thursday.
Members of several factions, including those from the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), questioned the mayor on exactly how he planned to curb pollution in the municipality, which is home to about 700 industrial firms.
The administration announced on June 10 that nine firms were largely responsible for water and air pollution, particularly, PT Argo Pantes, PT Cisadane Chemical Raya (CRC), PT Tonykitex, PT Pelita Cengkareng, PT Harlipan Batik, PT Surya Renggo and PT Lengtat.
Wahidin stated that PT Tonykitex and CRC were now being investigated by the police, while PT Argo and PT Pelita were being closely monitored by the Office of State Minister of the Environment. As for PT Harlipan Batik, the administration was monitoring them after they promised to build a waste treatment facility.
The central environmental management office, he added, was also auditing PT Lengtat.
"Surya Renggo has so far improved its performance in managing its waste. The company's Japanese investors are greatly concerned with environmental preservation," Wahidin remarked.
Separately, the Tangerang regency environmental management agency, in cooperation with the management of Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) housing complex, will plant 200,000 trees and hold a Green Fun Bike Ride in Serpong on Sunday.
The agency head Deden Sugandhi said on Friday that the event would be officiated by state minister Nabiel Makarim.
The donated seedlings will be planted along Jl. Raya Serpong and at several schools.
BSD executive Dhonny Rahajoe told The Jakarta Post that some 1,000 of the 8,000 residents of BSD were expected to take part in the bike ride on Sunday.
"Each participant will be given a large plastic bag that they have to fill with garbage they find along the route. Those who can collect the most, will get prizes such as television sets, computers and many other things," he said.