Tangerang to prosecute firms for polluting river
Tangerang to prosecute firms for polluting river
Multa Fidrus, Tangerang
Tangerang is planning to prosecute up to four companies suspected
of dumping toxic waste into the Cisadane River, the mayor said.
Mayor Wahidin Halim said he would name the firms responsible
for the pollution at the Achmad Yani soccer stadium on June 10,
in conjunction with World Environment Day.
"Investigations are still being conducted by officials from
the State Minister of the Environment's office," he said on
Saturday.
He said there was strong evidence two firms had dumped
poisonous liquid waste into the river that polluted tap water in
the Tangerang regency and municipality.
Wahidin said his administration was still investigating two
other companies also suspected of dumping raw waste into the
river.
As soon as the investigations were completed, the cases would
be brought to court, he said.
The Tangerang municipality is home to some 800 industrial
firms situated in the Batu Ceper, Jatiuwung and Benda districts.
The Tangerang regency, meanwhile, is the base of more than 2,000
industries, spread out over the Pasar Kemis, Cikupa, Balaraja,
Curug, Legog and Serpong areas.
City Secretary Harry Mulya Zain told The Jakarta Post the
industries in the municipality had contributed nothing to the
local administration and had only caused environmental problems.
The city only received fees from building permits, local
authority consents and the tax on groundwater. All other
production taxes were collected by the central government.
"We hope the firms here can create jobs for people living in
areas around the industries," he said.
Harry claimed the administration would not worry if foreign
investors preferred to close their business here and move to
Vietnam.
"We need investors who are willing to comply with the bylaws,"
he said.
Health and environmental agencies and tap water operators in
the area conducted a joint survey of the Cisadane River on Aug.
29, last year.
The survey found the water was being polluted by liquid waste.
Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has sent letters to the state
minister's office alleging five other firms were also polluting
the environment.
The regency environmental agency head Deden Sugandhi said
Ismet had discussed the environmental damage with State Minister
of the Environment Nabiel Makarim.
"During the discussion, the regent talked about the firms'
alleged pollution, rampant illegal sand mining activities by
locals, offshore sand excavation causing erosion, poor mechanisms
to control industrial waste and the degradation of 37 wetlands in
the area," he said.